Jefferson’s restaurants are pleased to announce the first-ever Atlanta area Jefferson’s Teachers of the Year. Each Jefferson’s location in the Atlanta area has honored a local winner:
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- Carrollton: Nick White teaches history at Carrollton High School. He’s also the head wrestling coach and works with the FCA, a sports ministry association that helps to feed 500 students a month. Mr. White has been teaching for 15 years, and was chosen for his ability to inspire the very best out of each of his students.
- Cartersville: Leslie Nix teaches ninth grade math at Cartersville High School. She knew she wanted to teach when she was in college, helping her friends with their math classes and realizing how wonderful it felt to help them learn. She has been teaching for 30 years, and was chosen for the deep care she has for her students.
- Hiram: Rebecca Shepard teaches French at Hiram High School, where she also oversees yearbook production and sponsors the French Honor Society. A teacher for 32 years, she has taught in all six states she’s lived in. She was chosen for her long history of serving as a soft landing for all students that pass through her school.
- Rockmart: Charlene Woolfork teaches special education at Van Wert Elementary School. She has taught for 28 years and is proud to be an active foster parent. Ms. Woolfork was selected for the many years of love she’s shown to her students.
- Villa Rica: Jonathan Cook teaches US History and AP Microeconomics to juniors and seniors at Villa Rica High School. Mr. Cook has been teaching for 22 years and said that he loves seeing his students succeed, stating, “the confidence that instills in them is magical for me.” Mr. Cook was chosen for his ability to inspire his students to hold themselves accountable to their highest standards.
Each teacher was chosen from a highly competitive pool of nominations submitted by students and community members. The contest, launched in honor of National Teachers’ Day on May 6, aims to recognize a few of the many deserving teachers in the Atlanta area. Jefferson’s selected White, Nix, Shepard, Woolfork, and Cook as the Teachers of the Year for their compassion, engagement, and ability to nurture their students’ curiosity.
“Our educators White, Nix, Shepard, Woolfork, and Cook are all teachers that are beloved by their communities,” said Jefferson’s President Brandon Graham. “Their nominators spoke of the special and joyful relationships these teachers have built with their students, and they spoke of their empathy, generosity, and their deep investment in teaching. The teachers themselves spoke of not being able to imagine doing any other job–and most of all, they spoke of the joy of seeing their students succeed. We’re honored to recognize Nick White, Leslie Nix, Rebecca Shepard, Charlene Woolfork, and Jonathan Cook.”
Each teacher will receive a $500 gift card to Jefferson’s, and their achievement will be commemorated with a “Jefferson’s Teacher of the Year” plaque for all restaurant patrons to see.
This year is the pilot run for the Jefferson’s Teacher of the Year award, launched as a sister program to Jefferson’s Coach of the Year award, which runs in the fall. The teachers’ initiative was open to teachers working with students of any age, and candidates could be nominated by students, parents and guardians of students, school officials, or other community members.