Karyn Dickerson is one step closer to being named the state Teacher of the Year. Today, the Grimsley High English teacher and 2012 Guilford County Schools (GCS) Teacher of the Year was surprised with the news that she's a regional finalist for the state honor.
A cheering crowd of Grimsley students, staff, supporters and family members greeted Dickerson as she entered the auditorium, where state officials were waiting to share the news. Dickerson was selected from 15 area districts to represent the Piedmont Triad/Central Region as one of eight public school regional finalists. A ninth finalist will be selected from a charter school.
"Karyn is a wonderful choice to represent our region as a Teacher of the Year finalist," said Grimsley High Principal Greg Newlin. "She holds her students to the highest standard and really ignites in them a passion for learning."
Dickerson joined GCS through lateral entry after discovering her passion for teaching while helping with middle-school reading remediation. A National Board Certified Teacher, she has a bachelor's degree in English and a master's degree in philosophy and also teaches English Methods at Guilford College.
In her application for GCS Teacher of the Year, Dickerson wrote: "I believe that I give students the most important tools for today's world: the ability to think for themselves, to question the world around them, to empathize with divergent cultures, to read carefully, to write effectively, to speak with clarity and to interact efficiently and sympathetically with others. I want students to leave my classroom feeling as if they have learned a great deal but will also want to continue learning for the rest of their lives."
The state Teacher of the Year winner will be announced in the spring.
