A Golden Triangle educator is among four finalists for the Mississippi 2015 Teacher of the Year award.
Ginger Tedder, an economics and U.S. history teacher at Starkville High School, has been declared a finalist for the award, given out by the Mississippi Department of Education and the Mississippi Teacher Center.
Tedder was named Starkville High School teacher of the year for 2015, according to SHS principal David Baggett. The district nominated Tedder for the regional teacher of the year, an honor awarded to the top public school teacher in any given congressional district. Being named to the final four means Tedder was declared the top teacher in the district.
“Just to be nominated for that honor is prestigious, to be in the final four is unbelievable,” Baggett said.
The principal said Tedder stands out in the classroom and has also played an instrumental role in helping Starkville prepare for its consolidation with Oktibbeha County Schools. Tedder, in her fourth year at SHS, brought all the clubs and teams from SHS to the campuses of East and West Oktibbeha high schools to allow future classmates to learn about extra-curricular activities they will have access to next year when the districts join.
She also serves as the primary teacher adviser for the SHS student government association.
“She’s very charismatic, very understanding and empathetic,” Baggett said. “She has very high expectations for all her students.”
Other finalists for teacher of the year are: Paula Whitaker of Oxford County Schools; Leigh Curtis of Clinton Public Schools; and Anna Morris of Lamar County Schools. The winner will represent Mississippi in the National Teacher of the Year competition.
Four finalists were also announced for administrator of the year. Stephanie Gilder of Hernando Hill Elementary in DeSoto County Schools; Fannie Green of Camden Elementary in Madison County Schools; Kevin Cheatham of West Lauderdale High School in Lauderdale County Schools; and Dr. Patrick Gray of Oak Grove Middle School in Lamar County Schools.
The winner of state administrator of the year is awarded a $5,000 stipend.
Recipients will be announced April 23 at the Jackson Convention Complex.
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