Richmond Hill Middle and Bryan County High schools recently recognized some of their top teachers by announcing RHMS math teacher Tracy Thompson and BCHS engineering, technology and broadcast communication teacher Inga Cashon as the 2013-14 Teachers of the Year.
Thompson was honored in front of her coworkers during a ceremony at RHMS on May 7 when she was selected from a group of five as the 2013-14 Teacher of the Year.
Thompson said she was “surprised and happy” when she learned she had been selected for the honor.
“The nominees I was competing against, it was a tough decision for the committee members, and it is an honor to serve with them as a nominee and honor to serve as Teacher of the Year for Richmond Hill Middle School,” Thompson said.
Thompson teaches seventh-grade math and has been a teacher at RHMS for nine years. She said her favorite part of working with middle school students is “seeing the student growth of learning and knowledge.”
Thompson said to be considered for the Teacher of the Year, one must be nominated by a coworker or someone at the school. The nominees are then asked to fill out a “thought-provoking” questionnaire, she said. The Teacher of the Year is then selected by a committee at the school.
BCHS Principal Dr. Dawn Hadley announced Friday that Cashon was chosen during the school’s Honors Day ceremony with more than 100 students and faculty in attendance.
“I was really surprised, I had no idea,” Cashon said in an email. “I am still in shock, but I am also honored to receive this prestigious award.”
Students, faculty and parents were all allowed to nominate a Teacher of the Year candidate at BCHS, and then a committee reviewed the nominations.
Cashon has been at BCHS for five years and teaches the engineering and technology education pathway and the broadcast communications pathway. She is also the adviser for the Georgia Technology Student Association (TSA), the varsity girl’s and boy’s tennis coach and serves on numerous committees at the school.
“My favorite part of my job is when a student begins to work on a problem solving activity and they struggle with the concept at first, but then their creative and critical thinking skills bring together an amazing product, thought or idea,” Cashon said.

Read more in the May 22 edition of the News.