13 Teachers at Johns Creek Schools Earn Master Teacher Status

Thirty of the 86 Master Teachers named for 2011 are from Fulton County Schools, Gov. Nathan Deal recently announced.  This is the second consecutive year that Fulton County has had the most Master Teachers in the state.

Thirteen of the 30 Fulton teachers teach at Johns Creek schools, including five from Taylor Road Middle, four from Autrey Mill Middle, one from Dolvin Elementary, one from Johns Creek High, one from River Trail Middle, and one from Wilson Creek Elementary.

Created by the General Assembly in 2005, the Georgia Master Teacher Certification Program identifies and recognizes educators who have positively influenced student achievement in the classroom and consistently demonstrated excellence.

“Being designated a Master Teacher shows that these 30 classroom teachers are committed to using effective teaching methods and research strategies,” said Superintendent Cindy Loe. “They join a distinguished group of educators who are committed to doing whatever it takes to help students succeed.”

 2011 Master Teachers from Fulton (Johns Creek teachers in bold): 

• Rayna C. Helton, Autrey Mill Middle School
• Kimberly Helen London, Autrey Mill Middle School
• Amanda Harrington Mitchell, Autrey Mill Middle School
• Tania Horan Pope, Autrey Mill Middle School
• Monica Madden, Camp Creek Middle School
• Cleopatra Alma Ballantyne, Conley Hills Elementary School
• Cheryl E. Ducray, Dolvin Elementary School
• Jerilyn Denise Robinson, Hapeville Charter Middle School
• Delrio Chiesa Carter, High Point Elementary School
• Robin R. Berlin, Hopewell Middle School
• Jillian Danielle Harris, Hopewell Middle School
• Mark R. Poole, Hopewell Middle School
• Robert Gustave Gabel, Johns Creek High School
• Toneka Charo Bussey, Love T. Nolan Elementary School
• Wagner Guy Pierre, River Trail Middle School
• Ida M. Ward, Sandtown Middle School
• James Andrew Payne, Seaborn Lee Elementary School
• Heavenly R. Montgomery, Stonewall Tell Elementary School
• Jennifer Slay, Stonewall Tell Elementary School
• Jeanne Bayer, Taylor Road Middle School
• Linda Bryant-Butler, Taylor Road Middle School
• Carrie Mustin Fontan, Taylor Road Middle School
• Deborah Fishman Kodish, Taylor Road Middle School
• Jean B. Thoss, Taylor Road Middle School
• Karla C. Ess, Webb Bridge Middle School
• Jaclyn McLaren, Webb Bridge Middle School
• Sandy Vegners, Webb Bridge Middle School
• Julie A. Yost, Webb Bridge Middle School
• Deborah Alex Lorber, Wilson Creek Elementary School
• Elaida T. Pitts, Woodland Middle School

These professionals now receive a Master Teacher designation on their teaching certificates for a period of seven years and are eligible to automatically renew them as long as they continue to qualify for Master Teacher status. 

In order to be eligible for the program, teachers must be working full-time, have had at least three years of successful teaching experience on a Georgia Clear Renewable Certificate, and provide evidence that linked classroom instruction to students’ achievement and progress.

Since its inception, 685 educators statewide have earned the certification, including the 86 teachers who received the 2011 distinction. With 66 total in its ranks, Fulton County has the second highest number of Master Teachers among all Georgia school systems.

For more information on the Master Teacher program, visit www.gamasterteachers.org.