A Starkville High School teacher has a shot at earning the title of top educator in Mississippi tomorrow.
R.J. Morgan was named Starkville School District”s Teacher of the Year in April and recently parlayed that into top teacher honors for the Third Congressional District.
He”ll be in Jackson Friday when Mississippi”s 2011 Teacher of the Year is named.
Morgan is in just his fourth year teaching after graduating from Mississippi State University in 2007. He teaches world history, Mississippi Studies, and geography in addition to supervising the student newspaper and the yearbook staff.
He believes his passion for communication, explained in a 13-page packet of essays and forms mailed to the selection committee, is what set him apart from other Teachers of the Year in the Third Congressional District.
“I have a background in journalism so I”m a pretty good communicator. And that was the platform I kept hitting home in my packet, communication and new technology in the classroom. Different ways to package information in ways students enjoy,” he said.
Morgan almost didn”t get to enjoy his own success after receiving the news of his Third District award.
“I thought I was in trouble. (Superintendent Judy Couey) and (Starkville High School Principal Keith Fennell) sat me down and were both stone-faced. They said ”This is a serious matter we need to discuss with you. In fact, nothing is more serious than you being named Third Congressional District Teacher of the Year.” My reaction was ”Thank God.” I was just so glad I wasn”t in trouble,” he recalled with a smile.
Having had time to think it over, Morgan is “incredibly honored and really excited.”
Students at SHS were able to share in Morgan”s celebration Wednesday as Blue Bell ice cream sales manager Norris Seay arrived from Memphis with enough ice cream for everyone as a special recognition of Morgan”s accomplishment.
Jason Browne was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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