Albany Herald

Carolyn Ford, a math teacher for the past 12 years at Lincoln Elementary Magnet School, was named the Dougherty County School System’s 2012 Teacher of the Year Tuesday at a celebration banquet at Live Oak Elementary School.

ALBANY, Ga. — Carolyn Ford clutched her chest and did her best to choke back the tears after being named the Doughtery County School System’s 2012 Teacher of the Year Tuesday night at Live Oak Elementary.

Ford, a math teacher at Lincoln Elementary Magnet School, bested seven other candidates to claim the title.

“After I heard my name called out, I did my best to keep myself together. I grabbed my husband and my principal,” Ford, a 21-year veteran teacher who has been at Lincoln for the past 12 years, said. “It’s been a long journey, and this night is most precious for me. I can’t wait to get back to school tomorrow and share this with my children.”

School Superintendent Joshua Murfree described Ford as “a notable collection of all the right stuff, and she inspires her children to become super heroes.”

“There has not been a day in my life that I have felt I made the wrong decision (to become an educator),” Ford said. “It is my hope that I plant a desire to obtain success deep in the souls of my students. As an educator, I feel that I am leaving a legacy and making a contribution on which no pricetag can be placed, or no trophy can be awarded.

“I would do it all over again willingly.”

Ford holds a B.S. in mathematics from Tuskegee University and an M.S. in early childhood education from Troy State University. She also holds an Alternate Ed.S. in teacher leadership from Walden University.

So what now for the school system’s newest Teacher of the Year?

“It’s a celebration after May 21,” Ford answered. “I’m taking a mini vacation. I need it.”

Other finalists were Elizabeth Arnold, Albany High School; Gistacy Veronique Brown, Morningside Elementary; Terri Brown, Lake Park Elementary; Phillip Burns, Lamar Reese Magnet School of the Fine Arts; Brian Collier, Westover High School; Felita Cobb Lockett, M.L. King Elementary; and Veronica A. Reese, Sherwood Acres Elementary.