Mountain top moment

(Written 9/20/2015)
So the last Friday of August was a high point in my career for sure. I was named Teacher of the Year at Bay Creek, the school I started teaching at last year. The whole thing was so surreal, I just wish I could lock it in my brain forever.

I was nominated the first week of school, and filled out the application that weekend. When 3 administrators came in my room that Thursday, I thought I was in for a doozy of an observation or that one of my students was in major trouble, but it was to announce that I was a finalist! My teaching was taped on the following Monday, then 2 days to vote, and the announcement came at Friday's faculty meeting.

The other two candidates were awesome 8th grade teachers, and I would not have had hurt feelings if either of them won. We were all called up front and I was announced - and got a standing ovation! I just want to freeze the smile on my principal's face in my mind. All sorts of pictures followed, then I was announced to the kids on the morning news show - and they were so sweet all day long! High fives and congratulations from kids I didn't even know, hugs from teacher friends, I even had a tiara to wear - I felt like royalty all day!

 This is me and my tiara, along with just a tiny bit of the amazing gift baskets that were put together by one of my APs - it was seriously untoppable, gift cards and certificates to tons of places - and even a week at a beach condo!

David and Sara were super sweet about it when I got home, having heard the news from Facebook through my dad.  Huge hugs and they have been telling people "My mommy is teacher of the year!" ever since.  Corey offered to take me out to eat when he got home, but going out to eat on a Friday is often more exhausting than relaxing for me, so he went out and picked up Mellow Mushroom, one of my favorites.
I've made it to the semi-finals of county teacher of the year - which meant another 2 rounds of applications, and even a photo shoot! It would be really cool to make it to the top 6, but then I would also feel a lot of pressure to make top 3 or even GCPS TOTY!  I think I would enjoy making it more for my school and admin than I would for myself.  Either way, it's been a very cool ride and an amazing start to the new school year!