LEDGER — When Gouge Elementary third grade teacher Michelle Lord and Greenlee Primary kindergarten teacher Justin Hollifield arrived at the Mitchell County Schools Central Office on the morning of Friday, Aug. 21, they thought they were just attending another interview.
To their surprise, however, they were both being recognized as co-teachers of the year among their peers and family members.
Superintendent Chad Calhoun explained to the two accomplished teachers that the Central Office could not decide between the two of them, because they felt like they were both “very deserving and very earning.”
“You both are outstanding teachers,” Calhoun said. “I’m very proud that you work in Mitchell County Schools and I’m very proud that you’re teachers, that you love kids, that you care for kids and that you’re good family members. I just appreciate both of you from the bottom of my heart.”
Because of state rules, only one teacher could be chosen as the state representative to go on to the regional process which will be determined in January.
To keep it fair, Calhoun put two slips of paper in a bowl, one blank and one that read “represent us well.”
Hollifield chose the representative piece, so he will represent Mitchell County Schools in the regional selection process.
Hollifield, who started his teaching career working with Lord in her classroom, said he was honored to be chosen as teacher of the year alongside her.
“She is one of the teachers that I would say, when I did internships, that I wanted to be like,” Hollifield said about Lord. “It’s an honor and it’s kind of bittersweet.”