Jones named Teacher of the Year in Butts County

AMERICUS— Ms. Hunter Jones, formerly of Americus was recently named as the 2009-2010 Teacher of the Year for the Butts County School System. Jones currently teaches 2nd Grade at Jackson Elementary School.

Jones was born and raised in Americus, and attended Southland Academy. It was at Southland where Jones learned first hand the experience of the impact that teachers had on their students. “ There are wonderful teachers at Southland,” said Jones. “Sometimes you don’t appreciate a school like that until you go to college and realize how much the teachers prepared you for college.”

After graduating Southland, Jones attended Valdosta State University where she received a B.A. in early childhood education. After teaching for five years, Jones went back to school to Georgia College and State University where she received a masters and specialist degree in administration.

All together Jones has been teaching for 21 years, and is something that she has been doing, as she puts its “since I was six years old.”

Jones was chosen for the award by a selection committee comprised of past Teachers of the Year from the district: Patrick Varillo, Jay Ellis, and Kevin Shivers. School Superintendent Lynda White praised all of the nominees and stressed the importance and quality of the system's teachers. Jones said that

she was very excited and shocked when she received the award. “At the ceremony, they read part of your essay before the announce who the winner is,” said Jones. “Well, when they started reading my essay, I didn’t recognize it was mine. About the time that they were halfway through with it, I realized it was mine. I was thrilled, it was such a big honor.”

Jones said that one of her favorite things about teaching is teaching kids, especially those with difficulty with the subject, how to read. “I really enjoy getting children who cant read or have difficulty reading the help they need. Teaching those lower level readers, and helping them not only to learn to like to read, but also to like school is one of the most rewarding things. In 2008 Jones love for teaching children to read was recognized as she was named the district reading teacher of the year, but was also named Georgia reading teacher of the year by the Georgia reading association.

For her achievement Jones received a golden apple signifying her occupation and commitment to teaching, and $1,000 prize.