Cartersville Primary's Paige Robbins Is System Teacher of the Year

After honoring its 2014 Teachers of the Year at Monday's board meeting, Cartersville Schools named its system Teacher of the Year, Paige Robbins, Wednesday at a luncheon at Stonewall Manor, which was sponsored by Renasant Bank.

Here's more about the 2014 Teachers of the Year:

Cartersville Primary School Teacher of the Year and Cartersville School Teacher of the Year: Paige Robbins

Teacher Paige Robbins is in her 16th year in education, the last 13 with Cartersville Schools. She has taught in kindergarten, first and second grade classrooms at CPS. She has an undergraduate degree in Early Childhood Education from Kennesaw State University, a Masters Degree from Piedmont College, and is currently in a doctorate program in Instructional Leadership with Nova Southeastern University. Her desire to teach came naturally from her mother who was also a teacher along with many former teachers who helped guide her into the profession. Her goal is to educate students to the highest level possible. She believes that in order to have a quality classroom, both the teacher and students must demonstrate understanding, patience, warmth, compassion, love and respect.  She also says that she measures her success by the success of her students.  “When I see the ‘light bulb look’ on a child’s face after many attempts to understand something, I feel accomplished.”  One of her former student’s parent says of Paige, “While being in the classroom I observed a woman that was born to be a leader and a woman who has great love for teaching and children.  Some of the many qualities that I observed in Ms. Robbins were that she is nurturing, sweet, strong, persistent, motivated, creative, inclusive with all people, fair, and caring.”
 

Cartersville Elementary School Teacher of the Year: Ms. Rachel Phillips

Rachel Phillips is the honoree from Cartersville Elementary School where she serves currently as a teacher of special needs students.  She is in her twenty-third year of teaching; twenty-one at CES. Phillips is a graduate of Western Kentucky University and West Georgia College where she earned degrees in Agricultural Education and Interrelated Studies respectively. She also holds a masters degree in Early Childhood Education and a specialist degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Piedmont College. Rachel sites her high school agriculture teacher as having the greatest impact on her decision to become a teacher.  He inspired her and it caused her to want to inspire others to do things that they don’t think they can do. She considers her greatest accomplishment being able to teach a particular middle school student how to read, as she has done many other students since that initial encounter. Her principal states, “She touches the lives of many children. It is a great privilege to walk into a classroom or small group setting and see her at work. She will use any means necessary to make sure her students understand the material being taught, but most importantly, she makes learning fun.”    

Cartersville Middle School Teacher of the Year: Debbie Justus

Debbie Justus is this year’s selection at Cartersville Middle School. Justus holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia in Early Childhood Education as well as a masters from Piedmont College. She is in her 21st year with the Cartersville City Schools working as an elementary grades teacher, Title I teacher, Parent Involvement Coordinator, and in her current role as a teacher in our ESOL program. She is in her 25th year in education. She says that her greatest contribution has been with the ESOL students at Cartersville Middle School. She will enjoy seeing seven of her students who she had in her first year graduate from the high school this year. Her work goes beyond just what happens in the classroom every day. Her principal says, “In addition to working with her students, Debbie works very tirelessly with the families of her students, trying to build a relationship of trust with them as well. As a result of her efforts, her students do very well in school and many times come back to visit with her after they leave CMS.”  

Cartersville High School Teacher of the Year: Michelle Stone

Michelle Stone is Cartersville High School’s choice for Teacher of the Year. Stone has been at CHS for 18 years as a teacher of biology. She holds an undergraduate degree from Berry College and a masters degree from West Georgia. Education has been in her blood from an early age. This is what she is meant to do. She found early in life that she could teach her peers complex processes and concepts and it has launched quite a career. She says that her greatest contribution is helping students reach their potential and helping them learn the importance of setting goals. She sees herself as always in the background cheering on her students in their successes and helping them when they struggle. One of her administrators said, “She works insightfully with and is patient with struggling students, and willing to see that those students are accommodated—not just in the spirit of compliance, but also, because of her desire to see that all students are successful in the academic setting. Toward that end, she remains long after the bell rings to tutor struggling students.” 

Tell us what you think in the comments, share your photos and videos, and don’t miss any of the local news you care about—subscribe to Cartersville Patch's newsletter, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.