November 12, 2021–11:00 p.m.
NEWS RELEASE
Tracy Owens, a special education teacher at Model High School (MHS), has been named the Floyd County Schools (FCS) Teacher of the Year for 2022!
Tracy Owens is in her fifth year as a teacher at MHS and thirteenth year as an employee for FCS. She first joined the Model faMily in 2008 as a one-on-one special education parapro while also serving students in the MHS autism program. Tracy worked on her bachelor’s degree in special education during this time, graduating from UGA in 2016. After teaching for a year at Coosa Middle, she returned to MHS as a Special Ed teacher for the 2017-2018 school year.
Tracy is a staunch supporter of MHS students and faculty, always willing to pitch in when and where she can. She goes above and beyond with anything she is involved in, whether it is volunteering to chaperone school dances, helping with sporting events, or serving as prom coordinator. In addition, she is the advisor for the Sign Language Club, which currently has 34 members! When her daughter played basketball, Tracy fervently served as the Lady Devils basketball booster club president. Coach Echols says that she was indispensable in that role.
During the Covid 19 shut down, Tracy met with her students daily via the virtual learning option. To maintain the connection that so many of her students needed, Tracy would film lessons to enhance the content, go to their homes to check on them, and even bring them treats. When in-person learning resumed, Tracy created a first Friday program for her classes. Her students planned, assembled, and distributed gifts to faculty and staff on the First Friday of each month. This activity taught her students job skills and also how a simple act of kindness can bring joy to others. Tracy is genuinely one of the most selfless people you will ever meet. She would give someone a kidney if necessary, and that’s not an exaggeration. In true Tracy Owens fashion, over the summer break, she donated a kidney to a stranger in need. Tracy Owens is Floyd County Schools Teacher of the Year because she genuinely cares about people.
Other finalists were FCS Elementary School Teacher of the Year, Corrie Henderson from Glenwood Primary School, and FCS Middle School Teacher of the Year Dr. Christy Davis from Coosa Middle School.
Each school nominated an individual Teacher of the Year by May 2021. After the field was narrowed down by qualifications for state honors, eligible teachers were interviewed by a panel of community partners who then voted anonymously to select two semifinalists from each grade band. The semifinalists were observed and evaluated in their classrooms by another set of judges to finalize the list of finalists. Top finalists and winners were announced during the FCS Teacher of the Year banquet held Thursday evening.
Elementary School Teachers of the Year were Stephanie Ayers (Alto Park Elementary), Angie Fletcher (Armuchee Elementary), Leann Fowler (Cave Spring Elementary), Laura Getchell (Garden Lakes Elementary), Corrie Henderson (Glenwood Primary), Dena Heard (Johnson Elementary), Kathryn Lee (Model Elementary), Nicole Martin (Pepperell Primary), and Suzanne Osborne (Pepperell Elementary).
Middle School Teachers of the Year were Ashley Puckett (Armuchee Middle), Dr. Christy Davis (Coosa Middle), Shelley Callier (Model Middle), and Kim Baker (Pepperell Middle).
High School Teachers of the Year were Dr. Donald Bettler (Armuchee High), Beth Wade (Coosa High), Tonya Strickland (FCS College & Career Academy), Tracy Owens (Model High), and Caitlin Floyd (Pepperell High).
It is because of the support, love, attention, and guidance of individual teachers that students from many different backgrounds are able to Focus, Connect, and Succeed in life! FCS is forever grateful for the positive impact teachers leave on students, staff, and Floyd County families each and every day!