By FULLER ROYAL

Columbus County Schools chose its 2006-07 Teacher of the Year last Thursday during a ceremony at the Madison House in Whiteville.

With the 16 nominees from the 19 county schools present, Superintendent Dan Strickland opened the envelope and announced the winner – Karla Nobles – Fair Bluff Elementary School’s grades 6-8 visual arts teacher.

Nobles, almost as excited as her principal Jennifer Smith, who shrieked when Nobles’ name was read, accepted the award from Strickland.

She said she was deeply moved and excited by the award and that her students shared in that excitement.

This is the first-time nominee’s second year working with visual arts at Fair Bluff.

“The success of Fair Bluff Elementary means a lot to me,” she said. “I love this school and I am proud to represent it.”

A native of Nakina, she became a teacher because of her love of art.

“I wanted to share my knowledge of art and help others gain an appreciation for art.”

She said that many of her students excel in art and should have a bright future with their talents.

“I want to be involved with helping students become successful,” she said.

After earring an associate’s degree in fine art from SCC she earned a bachelor’s degree in studio at from ECU.

She taught at Acme-Delco, Boys and Girls Homes, Cerro Gordo, Evergreen and Fair Bluff elementary schools.

“Teaching is a very fulfilling career,” Nobles said. “I enjoy being with the students and my colleagues. I enjoy watching the kids develop their skills year after year.”

She said the greatest danger to the profession is unmotivated teachers.

“Teachers who do not want to learn and employ new tactics burn out,” she said. “Their students are usually unmotivated and are not as successful as others.”

She said that teaching is an exciting career choice for young people.

“It’s a chance to inspire future society.” She said that students with the teaching gift should use those skills.

The other nominees were Harriet McDowell, Cerro Gordo Elementary; Alison Burroughs, Chadbourn Elementary; Lydia Judge, Chadbourn Middle; Kenneth Waddell, East Columbus High; Deborah Williamson, Evergreen Elementary; Martha Jones, Guideway Elementary; Tara Pate, Hallsboro-Artesia Elementary; Velvet Hardwick, Hallsboro Middle; Peggy Gerald, Nakina Alternative; Diane Gore, Old Dock Elementary; Crystal Stubbs, South Columbus High; Kelly Graham, Tabor City Elementary; Kenneth Boyd, Tabor City Middle; ReGena Brown, West Columbus High and Karen Prince, Williams Township.

The first seven of the remaining nominees are featured in this issue of The News Reporter. The other eight will be featured Thursday.

Harriet McDowell

McDowell, a 29-year veteran, teaches kindergarten.

“It’s an honor to be nominated because I work with some very exceptional and dedicated teachers,” she said.

She was nominated once before at Williams Township where she taught reading and kindergarten for 22 years.

“I became a teacher to enhance the lives of children and the community,” she said.

She grew up in Cerro Gordo, attended Southeastern Community College and earned a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. She has additional certification in reading.

She said she continues to teach so she can provide instruction in a wholesome environment for all of her students.

She said the greatest danger to the teaching profession is the moral breakdown of society, “which sadly, includes professionals in our field who have been in the spotlight in recent times displaying an overall lack of character and moral fortitude.”

She said high schoolers should consider becoming teachers to “help students reach educational excellence.”

Allison Burroughs

First-time nominee Burroughs teaches fourth-grade language arts.

“I am honored to be recognized by my peers because we have so many outstanding teachers at Chadbourn Elementary,” she said.

She said she became a teacher because she enjoys working with children and preparing them for the future.

She grew up in Fair Bluff and earned a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from UNC –Pembroke. She earned her master’s degree as a K-12 reading specialist from UNC-Pembroke and her master’s in administration K-12 from he University of South Carolina.

She previously taught at Tabor City Middle, Tabor City Elementary and Williams Township schools.

“I continue to teach because I love what I do,” she said.

She said that the high turnover rate among teachers is the greatest threat to the profession. She cited the lack of parental and school support as well as low salary for the reason.

She said high scholars should consider teaching because “it is a very rewarding profession.”

Lydia Judge

First-time nominee Judge has taught seventh-grade math for two years.

“I feel honored to have been selected as my school’s nominee,” she said. “I am a new teacher at the school and this nomination has really let me know that I am a valuable part of the Chadbourn Middle School family.”

Judge was determined to be a physical therapist when she entered college. She had a scholarship to Johnson C. Smith University, but it had no physical therapy program. She majored in health and physical education hoping to transfer to a school with a PT program.

“My school required that all physical education majors student teach,” she said. “Each year that I taught, I began to fall more and more in love with teaching.”

She said it’s a thrill to see children’s reactions when they accomplish something.

“I realized that my joy came from helping and encouraging children,” she said. “I did not become a teacher. The teacher became me.”

Judge grew up in the Farmer’s Union community and earned her bachelor’s degree at Johnson C. Smith. She earned teaching credits at Central Piedmont Community College and lateral entry credits at UNC-Pembroke and SCC.

“Children are our biggest and most valuable assets,” she said, “I feel honored to be a part of the education process. I can make a difference.”

Judge said the greatest danger to teaching is the lack of value society has placed on teaching.

The salary and demands of teaching are not attracting college students to the field,” she said, adding that high school students should consider teaching anyway because it is “the most rewarding profession.”

Kenneth Waddell

First-time nominee Waddell has taught for 27 years. He teaches high school-level agriculture production, mechanics, agri-science and environmental science.

“It’s an honor to be chosen since there are other teachers in this school whom I feel are as qualified or more qualified than myself,” he said. “The faculty at East Columbus is very supportive of each other and it has been rewarding professionally to be able to work with other teachers and the school administrators.”

With both of his parents trained to be teacher, Waddell had planned to enter veterinary medicine. His undergraduate studies were n animal science.

“My real love was farming,” he said. After working college and after working on the family farm with his father, he was approached by Monroe Enzor about working at West Columbus High School.

“The job was rewarding so I decided to stay,” he said.

He grew up in the Fair Bluff area and earned his bachelor’s degree from NCSU in 1975. Ten years later, he earned his master’s in agriculture education.

After WCHS, he taught at Hallsboro High School until the opening of ECHS.

“Like every other teacher with 27 years of experience, I am looking forward to full retirement,” he said. “The teaching profession is still rewarding so I still enjoy going to work.”

The greatest danger to the teaching profession?

“That young articulate adults who graduate with teaching degrees will decide after a couple of years that the pressure is too great and the rewards are too few to continue,” he said. “This trend will require more lateral entry personnel who may, in some cases, not be prepared for the transition.”

“Young adults should consider a teaching career since they were probably influenced almost as much by their teachers as their parents.”

Deborah Williamson

A middle school math teacher for six years, Williamson said it is an honor to be nominated by her co-workers. She has been nominated once before.

“I became a teacher so that I could help children learn and survive in our society,” she said. “My wish is that all children could be productive citizens.

Williamson grew up in Tabor City, earned her associate’s degree at SCC and her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at UNC-Pembroke.

Prior to Evergreen, she taught at the Columbus Christian Academy.

She continues to teach, she said, because she enjoys helping children.

Williamson said the greatest danger to the teaching profession is the breakup of the family, leaving children no longer wishing to function in society.

She aid young people should consider a career in education because, “There is no feeling like the one you experience when you see a child’s eyes light up with joy when they have achieved success.”

Martha Jones

This 28-year veteran teachers career and life skills, not only at Guideway, but also Williams Township and Old Dock elementary schools.

A lifelong Columbus County resident, she earned her bachelor’s degree UNC-Greensboro in home economics. She also received certification from UNC-Pembroke in teaching the vocationally handicapped and in prevocational education.

She taught in Rockingham and New Hanover counties before returning to Columbus County to work.

“I am very proud to represent the faculty and staff at Guideway Elementary where the teachers work hard to make their school the best it can be,” she said. “The principal, Jonathan Williams, portrays humility, leadership with vision and excellence.”

Jones said the greatest danger for education is the breakdown of the family.

“More and more children are distracted and emotionally distraught and disillusioned about what is required when love and authority are divided, inconsistent or absent.”

Tara Pate

First-time nominee Pate has been a kindergarten teacher for two years.

“It is a privilege to be nominated because it means I have the respect and confidence of my colleagues,” she said. “I became a teacher because it is the most important job in the world. It affects our world today but the future even more.”

The Whiteville native attended SCC and earned a business management degree at UNC-Wilmington, She also earned her k-6 teaching certification.

Before Hallsboro-Artesia, she taught in Robeson and New Hanover counties.

I love my job,” she said. “It is fulfilling in every possible way and I continue to earn and face challenges each day.”

She said the greatest danger to teaching is the early loss of brand new teachers, citing a lack of administrative support and inadequate behavior management training.

“There is not a more satisfying profession for someone who loves children.”

Earlier in the program, 2004-05 Columbus County Teacher of the Year Kem Dudney spoke. She congratulated the nominees and said that any of them would make an excellent representative of the school system.

Columbus County Principal of the Year Lynn Spaulding spoke also, sharing Dudney’s sentiments.