Hinesville Masonic Lodge 271 recently selected Mercedes Colon-Renta as its 2017 Teacher of the Year.
Colon-Renta was chosen based on her dedication as a teacher and mentor, and as a leader in an elementary school, where she has served for 20 years. Lodge members visited Button Gwinnett Elementary School on May 2 to present the award to Colon-Renta.
She is currently a first grade teacher at the school, where she is also grade level leader, fundraising chairperson, school governance team representative, and is involved in other areas to improve the school and student achievement.