Diana Anderson, media specialist at Lyman Hall Elementary was named district teacher of the year Thursday, during the Liberty County School System 2016 Teacher of the Year dinner at Bradwell Institute.
Anderson has been with the school system for 28 years. Throughout her tenure, she has taught kindergarten, fourth grade, music education as well as her current position.
“As my school’s media specialist, I wear many hats,” Anderson said. “Of those hats, the one that fits me best is my teacher hat. I was and always have been, a teacher first.”
She said she still prepares lesson plans focused on reading and critical thinking skills.
“When I have my teacher hat on, I set the bar very high and expect my students to reach it,” she said. “I provide them with opportunities to succeed and push them to reach beyond what they might think is possible.
“When a student fails to reach the bar I’ve set, rather than lower it, we work together to find ways to reach that bar,” stated Anderson.
Thirteen teachers, including Anderson, were nominated for this year’s LCSS teacher of the year. Each was chosen as their individual school’s teacher of the year. Nominees included: Bradwell’s Jeremy Fermin, Button Gwinnett’s Jung Neiman, Frank Long’s Shawndra Kolbeck, Joseph Martin’s Victoria Funston, Lewis Frasier’s April Allen, Liberty College and Career Academy’s Lauren Amis, Liberty Elementary’s Nhung Guillermo, Lyman Hall’s Diana Anderson, Midway Middle’s Eric Heady, Pre-K Center’s Lacey Bitzer, Snelson-Golden’s Stephanie Christie, Taylors Creek’s Debbie Parker, and Kia Waldo Pafford’s Brunson.
“Excellence in education affects not just individual students, but also the entire community,” Superintendent Dr. Valya Lee told the teachers. “Because of your excellence, we are creating a strong community with every opportunity for each student to fully realize his or her talents and gifts.”