Head of the Class 2022 Teacher of the Year & Finalists
Congratulations to PAGE member Cherie Bonder Dennis, Georgia’s Teacher of the Year for 2022. Like all Georgia educators, Cherie and each program finalist have gone above and beyond this past year. Below, in their own words, these rock star teachers provide insight into what they love about being an educator and how they would best advocate for Georgia’s students.
2022 Georgia Teacher of the Year “When our society invests in public education, and I do not just mean financially, the rewards are exponential not only for the individual children in the classroom, but also for our greater society that directly benefits from those children having been educated. Believe in public education because its potential is your potential. Believe in its ability to provide children a safe place to find their footing when their world outside of the school walls may be crumbling in ways that we personally cannot imagine.” Cherie Dennis — Savannah-Chatham County Public School System
“Student-teacher relationships can have many long-term effects on your classroom as it can help students to develop a more positive self-image, improve interactions with peers, and provide a sense of purpose while developing their persistence and empathy. The most beautiful part of all of this is that over time students begin to know and can manage themselves while also making sound choices about personal and social decisions.”
Natasha Berry — Valdosta City Schools
August/September 2021
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