After hearing other teachers’ classroom stories on TikTok, Makyla Jones expected her first year of teaching to bring more challenges than it did.
But Jones, a sixth grade English Language Arts teacher at Columbia Middle School who was named the Columbia County School District’s Rookie of the Year at a ceremony May 15 at the Savannah Rapids Pavilion, said her first year wasn’t marred with challenges.
“It was more than anything I could’ve ever dreamed of,” said Jones, a Lakeside High School graduate.
Being in the classroom and watching her students learn and grow has been exciting for her.
“On the first day, I knew this was exactly what I was supposed to do,” said Jones.
The Rookie of the Year celebration brought together all first-year educators with their mentor teachers in an afternoon capped with the awards.
“This is a great day to celebrate the profession and say thanks for what you do as a teacher,” said Steven Flynt, Columbia County School District Superintendent.
Also attending the event were students in the Teaching as a Profession Pathway who signed letters of intent to go into teaching as part of Georgia Future Educators Signing Day. The students are guaranteed a job interview in the district once they’ve completed the requirements for teaching. One student from each high school received a $1,000 scholarship from Georgia’s Own Credit Union.
The teaching pathway is gaining in popularity among students, according to Brooks Smith, the district’s Director of Career, Technical and Agricultural Education.
There are 471 students enrolled this year which is more than double the number from three years ago, he said.
Three speakers provided words of inspiration for the new and future teachers.
Luke Yelton, a teacher at Columbia Middle School and last year’s Rookie of the Year; Crystal McDowell, Columbia County’s Teacher of the Year; and Christy Todd, Georgia Teacher of the Year, spoke during the afternoon.
Five Rookie of the Year finalists were introduced at the event before the winner was named.
The other finalists were First Sgt. Curtis Marrow, JROTC instructor and assistant men’s basketball coach at Grovetown High School; Heather Lockwood, a Pre-K teacher at Euchee Creek Elementary School; Sarah Moore, a sixth grade English Language Arts teacher at Greenbrier Middle School; and William Freeman, a Grovetown Middle School math teacher.
“We’re so proud of what they are able to accomplish, and we need to build up that profession,” said Flynt. “We shouldn’t have a teaching shortage. We should really be celebrating our teachers and what they are able to accomplish for the community. “
Charmain Z. Brackett, the publisher of Augusta Good News and Inspiring: Women of Augusta, has covered Augusta’s news for 35 years. Reach her at charmain@augustagoodnews.com. Sign up for the newsletter here.
