Schools

Jason Backus Named Teacher of the Year

He will represent the county in the Georgia Teacher of the Year recognition program.

Alexander High School math teacher Jason Backus was named as the 2013-2014 Douglas County Teacher of the Year at the annual Teacher of the Year Recognition Program on Oct. 5. He will represent the county in the Georgia Teacher of the Year recognition program. During the local celebration held during the Foxhall Family Festival, a teacher from each of 33 schools in the county was recognized.

Additional recognition as semi-finalists was given to eight of the teachers. Three of them were named finalists. Dr. Andrea “Drew” Nesbitt, third grade teacher at Beulah Elementary School, was named Elementary School Teacher of the Year. Dr. Carol Lobban, a language arts teacher at Turner Middle School, was named the county’s Middle School Teacher of the Year. Teachers named 
as semi-finalists were: Michelle Jacobs, Chapel Hill Elementary School; Erika Prewett, Lithia Springs Elementary School; Darien Carruth, Mason Creek Elementary School; Tanganeki Shackleford, Stewart Middle School, and Whitney Lester, Chapel Hill High School.

“Each of the 33 teachers honored is an exceptionally dedicated, knowledgeable and skilled teacher who inspires students to learn,” said Superintendent Dr. Gordon Pritz. “They have the respect and admiration of students, parents and colleagues. These teachers play an active and useful role in the community as well as in our schools.”

Backus received his undergraduate and Masters degrees from the University of West Georgia. He is currently pursuing his Specialist degree from Kennesaw State University in Educational Technology. He also represents the district as the High School Teacher of the Year.

He is a product of the Douglas County School System and began his career in 2005 at Alexander High School. He believes that when teaching is done properly, it is one of the hardest and most demanding jobs that one can choose. His philosophy of teaching is that he must openly invest into the lives of his students. For some students, he realizes that he will be in a long line of adults 
who want to invest in them, but for others, he may be the only one and that is why he teaches. 

The Douglas County Teacher of the Year selection process began with each school selecting a teacher to represent their school in the program. The selected teachers then completed a detailed application form and submitted it to the Community Relations Office. A committee of 23 people spent many hours reading applications. The top eight teachers were selected from the group - (two each from the middle and high school level and four from the elementary school level). The next step in the selection process was a 30-minute classroom observation of each semi-finalist teaching in their classroom.

The committee reported that they enjoyed the visits and would have liked to have been able to spend more time in these outstanding teachers' classrooms. Admiration was expressed for all eight of these outstanding educators. The committee interviewed all eight semi-finalists before deciding on the level honorees (elementary, middle and high school) and the overall Douglas 
County Teacher of the Year.

Selection committee members included community members and educators. They are: Andrew Agan, Douglas County District Attorney’s Office; Julia Areh, Georgia Highlands; John Barker, PATCH; Tara Campbell, 2012-2013 Middle School Teacher of the Year; Kay Davis, Print Design Promote; Rodney Davis, Print Design Promote; Ayoka Duncan, MembersFirst Credit Union; Lisa Dunnigan, Title I Coordinator, Douglas County School System; Vicki Harshbarger, GreyStone Power Corporation; Valerie Howell, Merle Norman Cosmetics; Randall Jones, The Flower Cottage and Gifts; Kascia Lipford, Beyond The Front Porch; D.J. McConnell, 
2012-2013 High School Teacher of the Year; Steve McFall, Central Baptist Church; Joey O’Bryant, Yogli Mogli Frozen Yogurt; Melissa Roberts, Douglas County Sentinel; Christine Stanley, Design Solutions Group, Inc.; Linsey Strickland McEntee, 2012-2013 Douglas County and Elementary School Teacher of the Year; Rebecca Thompson, Jones-Wynn Funeral Home; Vonda Thorpe, TA Productions; Jennifer Walters, MembersFirst Credit Union; Patty Wenck, 
Wenck Travel; and Nancy Whittenburger, Retired Douglas County School System Educator. 

Honored as Teacher of the Year from their schools were: Jason Backus, Alexander High; Miranda Martin, Annette Winn Elementary; Kristina Glenn, Arbor Station Elementary; Dr. Andrea “Drew” Nesbitt, Beulah Elementary; Jeanette Dutcher, Bill Arp Elementary; Kathryn Howard, Bright Star Elementary; Brandi Goldin, Burnett Elementary; Michelle Jacobs, Chapel Hill Elementary; Whitney Lester, Chapel Hill High; Christal Wagner, Chapel Hill Middle; Sheila Watts, Chestnut Log Middle; Rick Sills, Dorsett Shoals Elementary; Kyra Beris, Douglas County High; Jennifer Waits, Eastside Elementary; Lori Blevins, Factory Shoals Elementary; 
Brittany Morgan, Factory Shoals Middle; Robert Sheperd, Fairplay Middle; Billy Carnes, Holly Springs Elementary; Erika Prewett, Lithia Springs Elementary; Arabela Haynes, Lithia Springs High; Darien Carruth, Mason Creek Elementary; Suzanne Butler, Mason Creek Middle; J.D. Hughes, Mirror Lake Elementary; Timothy Jenkins, Mt. Carmel Elementary; Terry Pino, New Manchester Elementary; McKeith Cordell, New Manchester High; Allison Morgan, North 
Douglas Elementary; Lisa Carruth, South Douglas Elementary; Tanganeki Shackleford, Stewart Middle; Casey Mullins, Sweetwater Elementary; Dr. Carol Lobban, Turner Middle; Meredith McTyre, Winston Elementary; and Tammy Jones, Yeager Middle.

The Douglas County Teacher of the Year Recognition Program is made possible by the support of the local business community. We encourage the community to patronize these businesses and thank them for their support of education in Douglas County. A list of those providing gifts, sponsorships or services follows: Allstate Insurance, Bill Upton Agency; Ann’s Florist; Beyond the Front Porch, Kascia Lipford; Central Baptist Church; Chapel Hill News and Views, Tim Collins; Cannongate Chapel Hills Golf Club; Chick-fil-A, Fairburn Road, Highway 5 and 
Thornton Road; Davis Clay Salon; Design Solutions Group, Inc.; Douglas County Chamber of Commerce; Douglas County Sentinel; Douglasville ACE Hardware; Douglasville Photography; Douglasville Therapeutic Massage, Inc.; Foxhall Resort and Sporting Club; Georgia Power Company; Georgia’s Own Credit Union; Gold’s Gym; GreyStone Power Corporation; Dr. Sam Haskell, Board of Education Member; Hightower Memorial Chapel; Joe’s Crab Shack. John Thornton Chevrolet; Jones-Wynn Funeral Home; Jostens; Mrs. Janet Kelley, Board of 
Education Chair; Kona Ice; Kroger; Laser Dimensions; Lifetouch National School Studio; Marco’s Pizza; Martin’s Restaurant; MembersFirst Credit Union; Merle Norman Cosmetics,Valerie Howell; Metro Bank; Metropolitan Renovations, Jimmy Bartlett; North Georgia Canopy Tours; Omega Learning Center; Planet Chiropractic; Primrose School at Brookmont; Print Design Promote, Rodney Davis; Public Education Trust, Inc.; Publix; Right Touch Dental, Dr. Lisa Kimble; Sam & Rosco’s Restaurant; SAM’s Club; Serenity Nail Bar and Spa; Shane’s Rib 
Shack; Shaw Hankins, Employee Benefits ~ Insurance Services; Stevi B’s Pizza Buffet; Taste of Thai; Texas Roadhouse; The Cheesecake Factory; The Trophy Den; ValuTeachers, Bill and Marian Dowland; Walgreen’s; WalMart, Douglasville and Thornton Road; Wenck Travel; West Georgia Family Dentistry, Dr. Eric Leithner; Williamson Brothers BBQ; Yogli Mogli Frozen Yogurt; and Your Fired Creations.


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