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Shoal Creek Elementary Teacher Wins RCPS Teacher of the Year at 2017 ceremony
Posted on 09/26/2017
Nicole Smith gasps and covers her mouth and the other teachers on stage applaud as she is announced as the RCPS Teacher of the Year during the September 25, 2017 celebration held at Rockdale Career Academy.For a video recording of the ceremony, go to www.rockdalelive.com or click here.

Conyers, Ga. - Nicole Smith's eyes grew wide as saucers when she heard her name. But it wasn't until the school board Chairman and the Superintendent presented her with a bouquet of flowers and a congratulatory hug that the sobs began.

The Shoal Creek Elementary School second grade teacher was announced before a standing-room only crowd as this year's Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) Teacher of the Year at the September 25, 2017 celebration held at Rockdale Career Academy.

"Oh my gosh," said a stunned Smith, as she wiped away tears and took a couple of deep breaths at the podium. 

"First and foremost, I'd like to thank my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ," Smith said. She accepted the award in the memory of her grandmother, who died last year. Smith later explained her grandmother, who was her biggest cheerleader, didn't have a high level of education and it was point of pride that her granddaughter was a teacher. 

She thanked her husband of 25 years, Frank, her two adult sons - one of whom is a teacher at Edwards Middle and the other a State Court Clerk, her parents Fred and Lucy, her colleagues who mentored and inspired her, and her own second grade teacher, Mrs. Suggs. "I will never forget the day (Mrs. Suggs) told me that I matter, and so did my thoughts and ideas. I started to believe her because she believed me."

"I believe there are teachers in this room right now that will be remembered by their students in the same way. Someday, one of your students may be standing where I am to day, and he or she will mention you as the teacher who changed their life."

Smith has been teaching for eight years in second grade. She originally majored in accounting but after her own children were in school, she began working as a parapro in an elementary school. She said in an interview before the ceremony, “I just fell in love with the atmosphere. Helping kids to learn really appealed to me.” She went back and got a degree in early childhood education and master’s in curriculum and instruction. 

“I love to come to work. It’s a challenge, you never know what’s going to go on that particular day. And that’s part of the excitement for me, being able to use the skills that I have to fill in those gaps and meet the child where they’re at." 

"I honestly believe it’s a calling and it’s what I’m supposed to do.”

Smith now advances to the state-level Teacher of the Year competition. 

Smith, along with finalists Seneathia Lewis of Conyers Middle, Dana Stone of Gen. Ray Davis Middle School (DMS), and school-level Teachers of the Year, were highlighted and honored at a red-carpet themed celebration honoring RCPS's teacher superstars. Honorees and their family and friend were greeted on a red-carpet walkway by a "paparazzi" played by photography students from Pine Street Elementary and Gen. Ray Davis Middle. During the ceremony speakers included last year's Teacher of the Year, Kim Sanderson of DMS, school board Chairman Jim McBrayer, RCPS Superintendent Richard Autry, and co-hosts Cindy Ball and Tim Hensely. Heritage High senior Amanda Lee and Salem High senior Demetrious Sampson gave standout vocal performances. Afterwards, attendees dined on a menu of beef kabobs, coconut shrimp, chipotle chicken cheese dip, handmade beef stroganoff, barbecue chicken, bruchetta, fruit and cheese, apple strudel and fruit parfait desert shooters, and more. Musical performance during the reception were provided by Cole Smith of Edwards Middle, son of the district Teacher of the Year winner Nicole Smith, and Angela Bobbitt of Gen. Ray Davis Middle.

This year, as part of the Strategic Compensation Model, all the school-level Teachers of the Year received $500. The district winner, Nicole Smith, received $1,000, which she will continue to receive every year as long as she is employed at RCPS. 

The RCPS Foundation, represented by RCPS Foundation board member J. Middlebrooks, also awarded Smith $500 and gave $100 to the two other finalists.

This year's Teacher of the Year Celebration Platinum sponsors were: Cannon Financial Strategists, Georgia Power, Georgia United Credit Union, NuVision Financial, RCPS Foundation, and The School Box.

All the school-level Teachers of the Year received many wonderful items in their gift bags from sponsors including:  
A plaque from Coca-Cola Bottling Company United
Gift items from – 
Ameritas
Barnes & Noble
GA United Credit Union
Rockdale Medical Center
Simply Divine Communications
THP Printing
The Chocolate Box
Pore Potions
Rockdale County Autism Support Group
State Farm - Todd Shambo
United Community Bank
$5 gift card from Fun Xcess Family Entertainment Center
$10 gift certificate from Cowan Ace Hardware
$10 gift certificate from The Upper Hand Day Spa
$25 Target gift card from Cannon Financial Strategists
$25 restaurant gift card from NuVision Financial
$50 gift card from The School Box

Finalists received all the above along with:
$25 gift card from Fun Xcess Family Entertainment Center
$50 Target gift card from Cannon Financial Strategists
$100 gift card from Kroger

The district winner received all the above along with:
A gift basket from Belk
$25 gift certificate and a gift basket from The Upper Hand Day Spa
$50 gift card from Fun Xcess Family Entertainment Center
$50 Visa gift card from Fidelity Bank
$50 Shell Gas card from NuVision Financial
$100 Target gift card from Cannon Financial Strategists
$100 gift card from The School Box
A One-hour massage from Rockdale Medical Center

For a video recording of the ceremony, go to www.rockdalelive.com or click here.

For photos from the evening, click here or go to facebook.com/rockdaleschools


2017-18 Teachers of the Year

Denise Baker, Lorraine Elementary School 

Fatima Cheffen, Sims Elementary School 

Ted Davis, Rockdale Career Academy 

Shawana Green, Edwards Middle School

Simone Hudson, J.H. House Elementary School 

Tyrone Huebsch, Rockdale Magnet School for Science and Technology  

Genifer Keener, Pine Street Elementary School 

Pernell Kirkland, Peek’s Chapel Elementary School 

Michelle Levin, Hightower Trail Elementary School 

Tia Litman, Salem High School

Dexter Oden, Memorial Middle School  

Tonya Price, C.J. Hicks Elementary School 

Morgan Pye, Barksdale Elementary School 

Allison Randall, Flat Shoals Elementary School 

Petria Redus, Rockdale Open Campus 

Dr. Widza Robinson, Alpha Academy

Kathleen Ruff, Honey Creek Elementary School

Scott Wade, Heritage High School 

Allison Yeomans, Rockdale County High School 

Finalists for 2017-18 RCPS Teacher of the Year


Seneathia Lewis, Conyers Middle School 

Dana Stone, Gen. Ray Davis Middle School 

Nicole Smith, Shoal Creek Elementary School  





Pictured below, left to right: The family of SCE teacher and RCPS Teacher of the Year Nicole Smith - husband Frank, Nicole Smith, sons Nic and Cole, father Fred.

The family of SCE TOTY and RCPS TOTY Nicole Smith on the red carpet




Pictured: Shoal Creek Elementary School teacher and RCPS Teacher of the Year Nicole Smith gasps and covers her mouth as her name is announced and school board Chairman Jim McBrayer presents her with a bouquet of flowers.

Shoal Creek Elementary School teacher and RCPS Teacher of the Year Nicole Smith gasps and covers her mouth as her name is announced and school board Chairman Jim McBrayer presents her with a bouquet of flowers


Pictured: Shoal Creek Elementary School teacher and RCPS Teacher of the Year Nicole Smith stands at the podium as the live stream screen displays her name as the RCPS Teacher of the Year.

Shoal Creek Elementary School teacher and RCPS Teacher of the Year Nicole Smith stands at the podium as the live stream screen displays her name as the RCPS Teacher of the Year


Pictured below: The parents of SCE Teacher of the Year and RCPS Teacher of the Year Nicole Smith - Fred and Lucy.

The parents of RCPS TOTY Nicole Smith stand as she thanks them during her acceptance speech, as the audience applauds


Pictured below, left to right: Superintendent Richard Autry, Shoal Creek Elementary School teacher and RCPS Teacher of the Year Nicole Smith, school board Chairman Jim McBrayer.

Pictured left to right: Superintendent Richard Autry, Shoal Creek Elementary School teacher and RCPS Teacher of the Year Nicole Smith, school board Chairman Jim McBrayer