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Sumter teacher in finals for state honor

• The region's only finalist for Georgia Teacher of the Year is a Sumter County special education teacher.

Susan McCord

AMERICUS – The first in her Americus family to graduate from high school and college, Sumter County special education teacher Tracy Wilson today is one of 10 finalists for Georgia Teacher of the Year.

A handful of strong educators and her parents' wisdom ensured Wilson and her sister would take a favorite childhood pastime, playing school, as far as it would go, Wilson said, in a Friday interview.

"As long as I can remember, (my parents) always told us, 'We were not fortunate enough to be educated,' because of situations back then that they had to take care of," she said.

"They always instilled in us that it was not an option, that we were going to finish high school, go to college and get all the degrees that we could."

Her mother had a sixth-grade education; her father completed eighth grade.

"I was the first born and the first person in my family to go to college," she said.

Wilson graduated in 1984 from the very high school where she now teaches, and earned her bachelor's and master's degrees from Georgia Southwestern State University in Americus.

Her own education in Sumter schools guided her to teach, and to teach in the area of special education, Wilson said.

Several of her teachers there "had a huge influence on my life," she said. "They were strong disciplinarians. I thought they had a genuine interest in my safety and my learning."

She was drawn to special education because of her personal experience as a young student, when she had a speech impediment.

"I remember some of the things I had to deal with as a child; being pulled out of my class and having to go to a special class. I can understand someone who is troubled... I was too."

Wilson is head of the school's special education department, which consists of 10 teachers and 95 students in grades 10-12.

She's working on a doctorate in curriculum leadership with a focus on co-teaching, where special ed and regular education teachers co-teach in the same classroom.

Her younger sister, Beverly Wilson, followed the same path and taught in Sumter schools before moving to Atlanta, where last year she was a teacher of the year in the much larger Clayton County system, and named one of 10 finalists for the county.

Georgia Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox announced the 10 finalists, chosen from 141 system Teachers of the Year, on Feb. 14.

"I want to offer my sincere congratulations to each of the finalists. I know that any one of them would make an excellent Georgia Teacher of the Year," Cox said. "I'd also like to congratulate all of the district-level teachers of the year. Each of them is a shining star in their community and around the state."

All 10 finalists serve on Cox's Teacher Advisory Council.

On May 9, Georgia's Teacher of the Year will be announced. He or she will compete for the title of National Teacher of the Year and spend the next school year traveling around the state and nation, serving as ambassador for the profession.

Wilson is in her 19th year of teaching. After a year at Sumter's Staley Middle School, she's taught the last 18 years at Americus-Sumter High School.

"I really, really am honored to be recognized by the system, and to be one of the 10 finalists," Wilson said.

The honor requires 18 pages of written answers to essay questions, classroom observation and interviews, but it starts with a nomination by a teacher's school.

"I'm probably most honored to be selected by my school, because these are my peers, people that I work with who have an opportunity to see my work, we collaborate, and they honored me to represent them at the school level," Wilson said.

"Sumter County has some of the best, very intelligent and innovative teachers in the state. I am just proud to be among those teachers."

Educators today are challenged most by two things -- a shortage of time and an abundance of paperwork, she said.

"It's a balancing act," Wilson said, "between making sure the paperwork is done, and making sure the most important thing is done, that the students are being taught."

Parental involvement is key -- particularly with special education students, each of whom has an Individualized Education Plan, and encouraged, Wilson said.

An annual holiday dinner that began last year gave teachers "an opportunity to see and socially get-to-know the parents."

With the parents of special education students, "we have a very close relationship," exchanging home and cell phone numbers, she said.

For students considering the teaching profession, Wilson offered words of encouragement.

"Teaching is probably one of the most loving professions that we have. Parents entrust us to work with their kids and to motivate them. It's probably one of the greatest jobs you can have."

Georgia's nine other teachers of the year include educators from Cartersville High School, Smokey Road Middle School in Coweta County, Sedalia Park Charter Elementary School in Cobb County, Columbus High School, Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School in Augusta, Conyers Middle School, Callaway High School in Troup County, Walton County's Performance Learning Center and Washington County High School.

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