Gadsden County District 5 School Board Member Stacey Hannigon, in partnership with Tyrone Davis, owner of Direct Auto Exchange in Tallahassee, has launched a new initiative to honor local educators by selecting a Teacher of the Month throughout the year. The program began in January, with Shanks Middle School teacher Nahketa Kirkland receiving the inaugural award, followed by Greensboro Elementary School teacher Dana Gilcrease in February. This effort aims to celebrate and recognize the hard work and dedication of teachers in Gadsden County.
“Our Excellence in Education Award began as a result of me reaching out to Mr. Davis, in my effort to establish a recognition/award package for our Teacher of the Year winner,” Hannigon said. “After speaking with the current Teacher of the Year, I learned that what we (Gadsden County) had been doing for our winner pales in comparison to what other counties were doing.”
Hannigon said when the Teacher of the Year winner goes to represent the Gadsden school district on the state level, she wants them to be proud of the support shown by their county.
“After leaving the presentation for this year’s winner, I made up my mind that I was going to lead this effort,” Hannigon shared. “Mr. Davis was the first local business owner that I contacted to request his support, and his response was, ‘I have one better, how about we do a Teacher of the Month, and I’ll commit my support for the entire year.’”
Hannigon said for January and February, they looked at the four runner-ups for this year’s Teacher of the Year competition, which included both of these ladies.
Kirkland serves as a Reading Coach for grades 4-8 at Shanks Middle School. She’s been a teacher in the district for 22 years. Her educational philosophy is grounded in student-centered learning and a commitment to fostering critical thinking and creativity. One initiative she implemented that contributed to the improvement of the overall school culture was Student-Led Data Chats. The goal of this initiative was to empower students to take ownership of their learning by helping them understand their academic progress through data. Teachers reported an increase in the students’ level of engagement, and their confidence in being able to make academic improvements, Hannigon said.
Gilcrease is a first grade teacher at Greensboro Elementary, and has taught in the district for seven years. She previously participated in the AmeriCorps Volunteer Program in our school district & then went on to become a teacher. Her commitment to the youth of Gadsden County goes beyond the classroom. She prides herself in being involved in the community, and is credited with hosting The Lamb Temple Summer Camp with an overall goal of helping to close the summer learning gap for students. Gilcrease desires to make a difference in children’s lives and she realizes that educating our students involves more than just books, grades and tests. To help ensure the success of her students, she sets well-defined learning goals, provides targeted instruction, encourages teamwork and cooperation, and provides opportunities for her students to participate in activities that align with their interests.
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