The Pike County Schools announced the system’s Teachers of the Year for the 2017-2018 school year at the Teacher In-Service Day on January 2.

Neana Fountain, Pike County Elementary School, was named the overall Elementary Teacher of the Year and Kim Dunn, Pike County High School, was named the Secondary Teacher of the Year.

The Teachers of the Year for the Banks Schools are Phyllis Jackson, Banks Primary, and Barbara Cotton, Banks Middle School.

Wendy Pittman is the Teacher of the Year at Goshen Elementary School and Shannon Brannon received the honor at Goshen High School.

In Brundidge, Fountain is Pike County Elementary School’s Teacher of the Year and Dunn is the Pike County High School award recipient.

Dr. Mark Bazzell, superintendent of Pike County Schools, said teachers throughout the system are to be congratulated for the outstanding jobs they do and their commitment to the students.

“And it’s always an exciting time when we recognize those teachers who stand out and above our great group of teachers,” Bazzell said. “We congratulate our 2017-2018 Teachers of the Year and want them to know how much we appreciate their work on behalf of our kids.”

Bazzell said the Teachers of the Year are nominated by their peers and the system wide Teachers of the Year are selected through an application process.

“The packets these teachers prepare are evaluated by outside readers,” Bazzell said. “There is no involvement on the local level. Our overall Teachers of the Year will compete at the state level in the spring.”

Bazzell said the evaluation for the statewide Teachers of the Year honors is rather intense.

“A packet is prepared that takes many things into account,” Bazzell said. “There is a written application that, I believe, includes an essay. The teachers are evaluated on assessment information, their participation in activities above and beyond the classroom, their community service and on comments provided by students, parents and also their peers.”

Bazzell said this year’s Pike County Teachers of the Year are very deserving and their commitment to the students of the Pike County School System is recognized and greatly appreciated.