Phone: (770) 787-1330 Fax: (770) 784-2950 Email: info@newton.k12.ga.us

Teacher of the Year Program

Congratulations to Live Oak Elementary School's Rothell Lewis, our 2012 Teacher of the Year! Past Newton County Teachers of the Year include:

  • 2012 - Rothell Lewis, Live Oak Elementary School
  • 2011 - None elected in order to change election schedule
  • 2010 - Melanie Sheets, Heard-Mixon Elementary School
  • 2009 - Christine Kraemer, Cousins Middle School
  • 2008 - Eric Adams, Eastside High School
  • 2007 - Shelley Yeatman, Fairview Elementary School
  • 2006 - Jeff Cher, Eastside High School
  • 2005 - Mike Hamner, Indian Creek Middle School
  • 2004 - Rene Seals, Middle Ridge Elementary
  • 2003 - Jeff Johnson, East Newton Elementary
  • 2002 - Bill Aiken, Heard-Mixon Elementary
  • 2001 - Kim Coady, Heard-Mixon Elementary
  • 2000 - Celeste "C.C." Bates, Fairview Elementary (State Semi-Finalist)
  • 1999 - Kim Mistovich, Clements Middle
  • 1998 - Debra Harris-Allen, Cousins Middle
  • 1997 - Louise Harwell, Eastside High (State Semi-Finalist)
  • 1996 - Thelma Jester-Crowley, Palmer-Stone Elementary
  • 1995 - Kevin Pittard
  • 1991 - Janet Rodriguez, Newton High
  • 1988 - Gail Bemis, East Newton Elementary
  • 1987 - June Brown
  • 1983-84 - Charlotte Wildman
  • 1980-1981-Karen O'Kelley
  • 1979-80 - Nancy Guerrero

If you have information pertaining to the missing years, please contact the Public Relations Department.

School Teachers of the Year are elected every September by their peers. All twenty teachers undergo an essay and interview process for the Newton County Teacher of the Year Program. From the composite scores of the two areas, the top three semifinalists are selected. These three teachers are then observed in their classroom setting by a seven-member selection committee. The 2010 semi-finalists were:  Ms. Laurie Carpenter, Fairview Theme; Ms. Melanie Sheets, Heard-Mixon Elementary; and Ms. Gail Bemis, Livingston Elementary. This year's winner, Melanie Sheets, received $1,000, a floral bouquet, three month’s free car rental from Covington Ford, and a crystal award. Both runners-up also received crystal awards in recognition of their achievement.