NHS Educator Named Teacher of the Year Finalist

Jay Nebel, a social studies teacher at Norcross High School, has been named a finalist in this year's Teacher of the Year for Gwinnett County Public Schools.

Nebel is among six GCPS teachers in the 2013 finalist group. He was named Norcross' Teacher of the Year in early September, and a semi-finalist for GCPS earlier this month.

GCPS wrote the following about Nebel in a press release:

"The spotlight of being named a local Teacher of the Year is one Jay Nebel has been under before in his 17-year with Gwinnett County Public Schools. Not once, but twice, at two different schools, Mr. Nebel has earned this honor. He is proud of that recognition as he credits his parents with teaching him how to be the teacher he is today. He remembers his dad being a funny, fair, steady, and knowledgeable coach and his mom for being patient but firm with high expectations for him. “Now, when I teach, I always hope that I’m making the kind of impact on my students that my mom and dad made on me,” he says.

"Mr. Nebel has taught World History to freshmen and sophomores at Norcross High since 2007. He dedicated the first 11 years of his teaching profession to Creekland Middle students where he taught language arts and social studies. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Middle Childhood Education from Georgia State University, and a master’s degree in Teaching and Curriculum from Trident International University."

Other finalists for Teacher of the Year include Erica Leach of Walnut Grove Elementary, Deborah Johnson of Berkmar Middle, Celisa Edwards of Dacula Middle, Heidi Mikulecky of Richards Middle and Dean Landers of Peachtree Ridge High.

The final element of the judging process for Teacher of the Year is the selection committee, who will complete classroom observations and conduct interviews with each of the six teachers, according to the news release. During the visit, committee members will look for original teaching methods, study the teacher’s teaching philosophy, review special class projects the teacher has initiated, and consider the influence the teacher has had on the teaching practices of his/her colleagues. They also will review each teacher’s educational degrees and civic activities.

Three of the six finalists will be designated as the elementary, middle and high school teachers of the year. The Elementary School TOTY, Middle School TOTY and High School TOTY will be announced at a banquet Nov. 1 at the Gwinnett Center.

All 131 local school Teachers of the Year will be recognized that evening. The district winner will be selected from among the three level winners and will go on to represent GCPS in the Georgia TOTY competition.

Gwinnett’s Teacher of the Year will receive an annual award of $1,000 and the other level winners will each receive $750 each year, for as long as they are employed with GCPS. The finalists will receive a one-time award of $500, and each local school winner will receive a one-time award of $200.

See also:

• Jay Nebel Named NHS Teacher of the Year

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