Both Gainesville City Schools and the Hall County School District recognized their system’s Teachers of the Year this afternoon at a Luncheon held at the Oaks at Lanier College and Career Academy. Susan Howard, from Lanier Elementary School in Hall County, and Cynthia Kinsey from New Holland Knowledge Academy in Gainesville, were honored by their respective systems and colleagues.

The event is sponsored annually by the Melvin Douglas and Victoria Kay Ivester Foundation. In addition, the foundation also presents both system Teachers of the Year with a check for $10,000.00.

Partners to both districts from The University of North Georgia, Brenau University, Lanier Technical College, and the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce, joined faculty, family, board members, and the Ivester Foundation, in celebrating Mrs. Howard, Mrs. Long, and the profession of teaching.

“What better way to spend our afternoon today than to raise up and celebrate the craft, the commitment, the purpose, and the heart of teaching,” said Hall County Superintendent Will Schofield. “These two ladies exemplify everything good and noble in education today.”

Alli Roberts, principal of Lanier School for Inquiry, Investigation, and Innovation, where Howard teaches, shared the following about the Hall County teacher of the year, who happened to be a top ten finalist for the state of Georgia:

“Our school is beyond blessed to have a teacher like Mrs. Howard. Not only does she understand the art of teaching and learning, she is also a driving force behind offering all students the opportunity to grow through the implementation of STEM. She is phenomenal! We appreciate the continuous support of the Ivester Foundation.”

“I want to thank Hall County, who offers so many different types of learning environments for children in our area,” said Howard. “This, in turn, provided me the opportunity to have my dream job, bringing project-based learning to all children at one of our district’s schools of choice. And to The Ivester Foundation. Thank you for this incredibly generous gift. Teaching is a career that, when done with joy in your heart, is a tremendous honor whose reward comes in the lasting impact we leave on the lives of our students. Your gift is a cherry, many, many cherries, on top of it all.”