Riversink Elementary School teacher Megan Crombie was announced by Wakulla County Superintendent David Miller as the 2012 Wakulla County Teacher of the Year on January 30, 2012. Her fourth and fifth grade combination class of students excitedly clapped and cheered as he told them, “Now she gets to go to Disney World!”

She will now go on to compete with the other District Teachers of the Year for Regional and then State Teacher of the Year.  In July, all school districts’ Teachers of the Year will be honored at the Florida Department of Education-Macy’s sponsored program in Orlando.
States Superintendent Miller, “Mrs. Crombie is a glowing example of the excellent teachers we have in Wakulla.  Every time I visit her classroom I am amazed at the extent of learning taking place.  Her focus is on student achievement and her love for her students is at the core of that desire to see them succeed.”

Riversink Principal Jackie High notes, “While Mrs. Crombie is academically very strong, her true strength lies in the relationships she builds with her students, their families, and her peers in the school.  She makes learning exciting and fun.”

Crombie holds a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, a masters degree in Gifted Education, has certification in Middle Grades Integrated Curriculum, is endorsed in English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and is a National Board certified teacher.  This is her seventh year of teaching.

She also teaches three of the five college courses needed for the Gifted Endorsement to a cadre of elementary and middle school teachers after school hours.  In addition, she has been the Riversink Yearbook sponsor since 2008 and has taken a leadership role in the Wakulla District Writing Committee.

Observes Crombie, “Student motivation and academic performance data are two sides of the same coin:  I believe analyzing one without understanding the other paints an incomplete picture of my students’ capabilities and needs.” 

Enthused about building on her students’ skills in science and math, in the summer of 2010 she participated in the six week National High Magnetic Laboratory’s Research Experience for Teachers in Tallahassee, plus was selected to attend the Phil Mickelson ExxonMobil Teachers Academy for Math and Science in New Jersey.  She explains, “Both emphasized discovery-based learning in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) subjects.   Building on this premise, I used inquiry experiences in math all year.”  Her students showed 100% proficiency in math compared to the state average of 74%  math proficiency on the 2011 FCAT (Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test).

School Level Teachers of the Year were selected by their peers at their schools, and then went on to apply for the district title.  An experienced panel of four educators scored written packets and rated interviews where all candidates had the same questions asked of them. 

Eight candidates represented their schools as School Level Teachers of the Year.  The other outstanding School Level Teachers of the Year for 2012 are:   Holly Harden, Crawfordville Elementary; Angela Swain, Medart Elementary; Michelle Hunter, Shadeville Elementary; John Kane, Riversprings Middle School; Jeri Jump, Wakulla Middle School; Missy Rudd, Wakulla High School; and Shari Smith, Wakulla Pre-Kindergarten.

Crombie is married to Dave Crombie.  Her parents, Tim and Beth O’Donnell, are both Wakulla School District educators.     

These representatives and all Wakulla County teachers will be honored at a celebration on March 16, 2012 at Wakulla Middle School.

Click here to view a photo gallery of Megan's surprise visit!

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