GUILFORD COUNTY, N.C. — Congratulations are in order for Guilford County Schools ‘Teacher of the Year,’ Tammy White & ‘Principal of the Year’ Ron Luciano!
White is the Kiser Middle School Band Director and has been for 18 years.
She describes herself as a “wise-cracking teacher who uses humor to engage.”
White insists though you may have the most creative lesson plan if students don't believe you care about them, they will never truly comprehend.
White began her educational journey as an ACES director with various stints as a tutor, orchestra director, and even a principal intern.
She always knew however that her heart was in music and helping students find their love for it.
“There are infinite possibilities in what is achievable once you get a child to know that you care for them,” said White during her ‘Teacher of The Year’ award speech.
Guilford County Schools named Ron Luciano ‘Principal of the Year’ for his tremendous work at Jones Elementary.
Under Luciano’s guidance, Jones Elementary has seen unprecedented EVAAS growth. In 2018, Jones Elementary not only met expected growth, but they exceeded expected growth!
Students at Jones expressed their gratitude through letters about their school leader.
One student stated… Luciano is a “fair principal, caring for the welfare of his students and the community,” and also “I just hope the principal at Kiser is as great as him.”
In Luciano’s acceptance speech, he had a very important message to all the educators.
“To all the educators in the room, you are the light. You are the light that pushes back the darkness. Don’t ever forget that,” said Luciano.
These teachers and principals also received top honors:
Loretta Rowland-Kitley, Middle College at GTCC Jamestown, Secondary Principal of the Year
Lindsey Nail, Jesse Wharton Elementary, Elementary Teacher of the Year
Liliana Jordanov, Middle College at NC A&T, High School Teacher of the Year
Lauren Jackson, Herbin-Metz Education Center, GCS Mentor of the Year
Kavaughn Brown, Mendenhall Middle, GCS Rookie Teacher of the Year
Chris Scott from Monticello Brown Summit Elementary, Erik Naglee from Page High and Arlisa Armond from Southwest Middle were also Principal of the Year finalists.
Grace Keener-Jones from Eastern High, Coshenda Clark from Johnson Street Elementary, and Ricardo Bernal from Swann Middle were also Teacher of the Year finalists.
RELATED: Guilford County Schools Prepping 'Celebration of Excellence' Awarding $20,000 To Top Educators
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