A third-grade teacher in Fulton County was named Georgia's Teacher of the Year in 2019. Allison Kerley Townsend is a teacher at Barnwell Elementary School in the Fulton County School System.
In her role, Townsend will serve as an advocate for public education issues in Georgia.
She said she believes in the potential of students not just to be the leaders of tomorrow but to lead right now.
"Some people believe that children are the 'leaders of tomorrow,'" Townsend said to Fulton County Schools. "I like to challenge this idea. We cannot ignore the incredible impact children can have on the world today, if we let them. My mission is to help students take ownership of their learning and have an impact beyond the classroom…whether they are Skyping a scientist across the country, blogging about how they believe we should combat pollution, or sharing the inspiring music videos we create as a class."
State Superintendent Richard Wood said her focus is in the right place.
"It is very clear to me that Allison Kerley Townsend is a teacher who walks into her classroom every day with her focus in exactly the right place: what do these students in front of me need to learn, and how can I help them learn it?," Woods said in a statement.
"Then she brings all of her creativity, ingenuity and skill to the fore to accomplish that goal. I am honored to recognize her as the 2019 Georgia Teacher of the Year and look forward to working with her to tell the best story I know – the story of Georgia's public schools, and the lives changing within them every single day."
According to FCSC, Townsend graduated from Clemson University in 2012 with a bachelor's degree in elementary education. Throughout her career, she has taught Pre-k, third, fourth and fifth grade students.
In a handwritten letter, a student wrote that "Before I was in Ms. Kerley's class I felt like days had passed before Lunch!"
But it all changed with his new teacher. "I think Ms. Kerley should win teacher of the year because she makes me exited for every school day!"
