Top teachers were honored Wednesday at the 14th annual Effingham County Board of Education Teacher of the Year Banquet, sponsored by the Effingham Herald.

The 2013-14 teachers of the year from the county’s 13 public schools were recognized at the banquet at New Ebenezer Retreat Center.

Marlow Elementary School’s Jenny Wilkins was saluted as the teacher of the year for Effingham County.

“It’s an incredible honor,” Wilkins said. “I don’t see it as being the top teacher in the county. I see it as being representative of all the great teachers of Effingham County.”

Superintendent Randy Shearouse introduced each teacher as the awards were presented. A recurring theme was how much each educator cares about his or her students.

“They could write their own book about caring about their students, so we’re certainly appreciative of what they do,” Shearouse said. “They don’t take failure as an option. They are going to make sure that students are successful.”

Effingham County’s 2013-14 teachers of the year are:
Blandford Elementary — Amy Moseley
Ebenezer Elementary — Carla Luke
Ebenezer Middle — Christie Durden
Effingham County High — Heather Vanderhoek
Effingham County Middle — Stephanie Kea
Guyton Elementary — Emily Pridgen
Marlow Elementary — Jenny Wilkins
Rincon Elementary — Kristy Huntley
Sand Hill Elementary — Belinda Garland
South Effingham Elementary – Sandy Hicks
South Effingham High — Michael Cabrera
South Effingham Middle — Gloria Young
Springfield Elementary — Jaime Aaron

“Our teachers work very hard, and they care about relationships (with students),” Shearouse said. “The testing is important, but it really starts with the relationships.”

Teacher of the Year profiles
Beginning Oct. 15, the Effingham Herald will run weekly features on the teachers of the year from each school. County teacher of the year Jenny Wilkins will be spotlighted in the Herald’s annual Countywide special edition in late November.