New teachers receive incentive awards

For the past six years, Coffee County School System has recognized new teachers with one to three years of teaching experience through their New Teacher Incentive Award.    

Nominated by his or her administrators, academic coaches or mentors, a teacher is selected from each level; elementary, middle and high school for their outstanding instructional skills, exceptional interaction with students, colleagues, parents and others, a proven record of helping students succeed and any other information that distinguishes the nominee as going above and beyond. 

Throughout the past several years, as the pool of teacher applicants has grown smaller, the system realized the need to improve their efforts of retention. Recruitment and retention are important but if more teachers are retained the need for recruitment is less.

What better way to improve retention than to show appreciation? 

At the recent school board meeting on Thursday, September 23, the system recognized this year’s honorees.

Emily Harrell from Eastside Elementary is 5th grade teacher of reading, language arts and social studies.  Ms. Harrell is a graduate of Georgia Southwestern University where she earned her Bachelor and Master in Education in the field of Elementary Education.  She began her career with Coffee County Schools in August of 2018.

Anna Chavez from Westside Elementary is a 4th grade teacher of language arts and science.  Ms. Chavez is a graduate of Valdosta State University where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education.  She began her career with Coffee County Schools in July of 2020.

Crystal Lott from Coffee Middle School is an 8th Grade Social Studies teacher.  Ms. Lott earned her Bachelor of Business Administration with an emphasis in the area of Management from Georgia Southern University.  August of 2018, Ms. Lott joined the school system and completed the Georgia Teacher Alternative Preparation Program through Okefenokee RESA.  She is certified in Middle Grades Science and Social Studies.

Colleen Scott from George Washington Carver Freshman Campus teaches Language Arts.  A graduate of Valdosta State University with a Bachelor of Arts in English, Ms. Scott earned her Master of Education in English and earned her full certification from Valdosta State University.  She began her career with the school district in August of 2018.