Here are the three Muscogee County Teacher of the Year finalists
The 2020 Teacher of the Year in the Muscogee County School District will be one of these three finalists:
- Karlyn McConnell, Columbus High School, science, grades 9-12
- Chelsie Rogers, Northside High School, economics and AP Human Geography, grades 10 and 12
- Lisa Seegar, Britt David Magnet Academy, science, fifth grade.
The Muscogee Educational Excellence Foundation, which conducts MCSD’s Teacher of the Year program, announced the finalists Friday in surprise classroom visits.
All three finalists graduated from a Chattahoochee Valley high school: McConnell from Troup, Rogers from Northside and Seegar from Jordan. They also earned at least one of their teaching degrees from Columbus State University.
So to be honored in the area they were educated “gives us a sense of pride that our students are doing amazing things and they’re giving back,” said McConnell, a 21-year educator. “… That’s what it’s all about, giving back to the people that you get things from.”
Rogers has the added connection of not only teaching at her alma mater but also in the classroom of her favorite history teacher, Jenny Hale.
“Northside has a special place in my heart, so it means a lot to me that I get to influence students here the way I was influenced,” said Rogers, an eight-year educator.
And to have the surprise announcement happen in front of their students, “I can’t think of a better group of people to share it with than them,” said Seegar, a 20-year educator.
Selection process
The selection process started in January, when the 56 nominees were announced. The nominees are from each MCSD school and are designated by the school’s staff.
Based on their applications, the selection committee chose 10 semifinalists to interview in February. The other semifinalists, were:
- Sicily Coleman, Reese Road Leadership Academy, math and science, third grade
- Lisa Elliott, River Road Elementary School, kindergarten
- Rachel Fahnestock, Aaron Cohn Middle School, math, grades 7-8
- Michele Gore, Dorothy Height Elementary School, kindergarten
- Jamie Hagan, Double Churches Elementary School, third grade
- Lara Allan Lasseter, Clubview Elementary School, second grade
- Tammy McBee, Mathews Elementary School, math, fourth grade.
Committee members will observe the finalists teaching in their classrooms. The winner will be announced May 7, during the foundation’s annual gala in the Columbus Convention & Trade Center.
Retired educator Tom Hackett, formerly Columbus State University provost and superintendent of Phenix City Schools, is chairman of this year’s selection committee. Other members are:
- Carl Brown, insurance broker, owner of C. Brown & Associates
- Bridget Downs, assistant dean for community outreach at CSU
- Rita Ellis, managing partner at Key 2 Wall Street
- Spencer Garrard, retired CSU education professor
- Melanie Gouine, 2018 MCSD Teacher of the Year
- Donovan Granville, district manager for Social Security Administration
- Sheryl Green, 2015 MCSD Teacher of the Year
- Shane Larkin, 2017 MCSD Teacher of the Year
- Bridget Markwood, education consultant
- Marquette McKnight, CEO of Media, Marketing and More, executive director of MEEF
- Ty Webb, water resource engineer at Barge Design Solutions.
Hackett wasn’t able to be part of the semifinalist interviews, so Brown spoke for the committee when he explained why McConnell, Rogers and Seegar are the finalists.
“They are great representatives of the teaching profession,” Brown told the Ledger-Enquirer. “They will be able to articulate that not only to their peers but also to the community as a whole and also to the corporate community, which is big in backing what goes on in our public school system.”
Another commonality among the finalists, Brown said, is their ability to express a balance between the modern techniques of instructing and the old-fashioned basics.
“You found teachers who were engaged, who were trying different things dealing with technology but also at the same time realizing that they were able to articulate that we cannot lose sight of the fact that the kids also have to develop social skills,” he said. “That was a big thing a couple teachers mentioned. A kid can always get numbers and facts from Google or Siri, but how do you sit them in a group and get them to, through teamwork, come up with a plan. They were willing to articulate those things.”
His experience on the selection committee, Brown said, has helped him be more optimistic about the school district.
“We have reason for hope,” he said. “We also have reason to continue to support the teachers, because we have great teachers in Muscogee County.”
MEEF is a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering educational excellence by focusing on teachers who are innovative and exceptionally effective. In its 24-year history, the foundation has awarded more than $2.6 million to such educators through the Teacher of the Year and Harvard Fellows programs and other grants.
IF YOU GO
What: Muscogee County School District 2020 Teacher of the Year gala.
When: May 7, 6 p.m. reception, 6:45 p.m. dinner, followed by announcement of the winner.
Where: Columbus Convention & Trade Center ballroom, 801 Front Ave.
Tickets: $50, on sale starting March 21 at RiverCenter for the Performing Arts box office, 900 Broadway.
This story was originally published March 13, 2020 at 11:09 AM.
