2007 Teachers of the Year for Wakulla County are Chosen 

Superintendent David Miller and some of his staff had the pleasure of announcing the school-level 2007 Teachers of the Year on December 14.  Surprising the teachers with flowers, candy, and balloons, Superintendent Miller received enthusiastic responses from students as he entered each classroom to present the honor to their teacher.

The seven Teachers of the Year for 2007 are:  Pat Calhoun, Crawfordville Elementary; Connie Worrill, Medart Elementary; Rhonda Traweek, Shadeville Elementary; Crissy Sarvis, Riversprings Middle; Angie Walker, Wakulla Middle; Sunny Chancy, Wakulla High; and Ashley Anderson representing all the district professionals who work with children.

Nominations from each school’s faculty began the process in November, and then nominees submitted professional and biographical information forms for the faculties to read. Faculties then voted for their school’s Teacher of the Year. Selected teachers’ names were concealed until Superintendent Miller visited each school on December 14.

The seven are now in the running for Wakulla County’s Teacher of the Year, which will be announced at the beginning of February.  A qualified panel of judges from outside of Wakulla County will rate an extensive written packet and an interview from each teacher. The 2007 Wakulla County Teacher of the Year will then compete with the other 66 districts’ Teachers of the Year for the Florida Teacher of the Year award in the spring.

Pat Calhoun of Crawfordville Elementary School is certified in Primary Education, grades K-3.  With 30 years of classroom experience, she summarizes that communication and commitment are vital: “Communication with students, parents, administrators and co-workers is essential to effective teaching.  Commitment to helping each child grow and improve in academics and self-esteem is another important facet of effective teaching.”

Calhoun is a member of the Delta Kappa Gamma honorary women educators’ organization, chairman of the School Advisory Council, and is a mentor to a first grade teacher.

Connie Worrill of Medart Elementary has certification in Early Childhood, Elementary Education, and has a master’s degree in Educational Leadership.  Her self-reflection makes her effective, as she constantly asks herself, “How well do all children respond to my teaching methods?  Do I meet the emotional, physical and educational needs of each child?”  She has been teaching for 20 years and has taught almost every grade from Pre-K to 6th.

Worrill serves as a School Advisory Council member, is a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, and serves on the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities Regional Constituency Board.

Shadeville Elementary voted in third grade teacher Rhonda Traweek as their Teacher of the Year.  She is certified in Elementary Education.  With 16 years of teaching experience, Traweek notes, “I love what I do. My goal is a well-educated child. . .capable of thinking deeply and critically about issues of self and society.”

Leadership positions include chairman of the school’s Technology Committee, member of the District Technology Committee, technology trainer for teachers, and membership in Delta Kappa Gamma.

Crissy Sarvis is the representative from Riversprings Middle School.  She is certified in English grades 6-12, in Math grades 5-8, and has earned the Reading Endorsement for grades K-12.  With 14 years’ experience, she believes, “Outstanding teachers celebrate student success and tirelessly plan creative ways to help students ‘get it’ when they fail.”

Sarvis is chairman of the Reading Committee for the School Advisory Council, chairman of the Finance Committee for Delta Kappa Gamma, and is a district instructor for Reading Endorsement competencies. She also is a National Board Certified teacher.

At Wakulla Middle School, media specialist Angie Walker represents her teachers.  She has a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, a master’s degree in Educational Leadership, and additional certification in Language Arts grades 6-8, Technology grades 6-12, and Media grades 6-12.

With 19 years’ experience in many different areas, Walker summarizes: “Effective teaching is loving what you do, loving the children you teach, loving the place you work and the people with whom you work, embracing new ideas, forever educating yourself, sharing with your peers, and always putting students first.”  She has been a School Advisory Council chairman and co-chairman, plus chaired SAC subcommittees of Reading, Communications, and Technology.  Walker also is a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, the Florida Association of Media Educators, and is the Student Council Sponsor.

Wakulla High School’s Teacher of the Year is science teacher Sunny Chancy.  She holds a bachelor’s degree in Human Biology, a master’s in Mathematics/Science Education, and is due to finish certification in Educational Leadership this summer. She has taught for 7 years and this year started the first Advanced Placement Biology course for possible college credit for high school seniors.

Chancy observes, “I try to make learning fun for students to keep them engaged and interested in the opportunity to learn.”  She is the School Advisory Council chairman and trains other teachers in analyzing student data to better guide their instruction.

Child Find Specialist Ashley Anderson represents the district professionals group of educators who work with children in several different schools such as physical therapists, speech pathologists, etc.  One of her many jobs is to seek out Wakulla County children ages infant to four who may need to be tested for disabilities.  She has a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, a master’s in Social Work, and is certified in School Social Work grades K-12.
Anderson is on the Special Olympics Florida Program Advisory Committee, is co-chairman of the Wakulla Children’s Coalition, and is a member of Delta Kappa Gamma.

The district professionals’ category will alternate each year with teachers from Wakulla Education Center and Sopchoppy Education Center.  Stated Superintendent David Miller of the seven named, “Any one of these fine educators would be an excellent choice for Wakulla County’s District Teacher of the Year.  It is difficult to pick just one teacher to honor from each school, and even harder to narrow it down to one from the district because there are so many outstanding teachers in our schools.”

These teachers and all of the Wakulla County teachers will be honored at a Teacher Appreciation Breakfast on February 16 at Riversprings Middle School.

To learn more about each teacher, just click on their name in the above article, or click on their name below:

Pat Calhoun, Crawfordville Elementary School
Connie Worrill, Medart Elementary School
Rhonda Traweek, Shadeville Elementary School
Crissy Sarvis, Riversprings Middle School
Angie Walker, Wakulla Middle School
Sunny Chancy, Wakulla High School
Ashley Anderson, Wakulla County District Professional

- Beth O'Donnell, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction

This article originally published on January 7, 2006.

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