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Teacher of the Year Top 3 Finalists 2017
Posted on 08/29/2017
Collage of the top 3 finalists for RCPS 2017 Teacher of the YearRockdale County Public Schools congratulates the top three finalists for RCPS 2017 Teacher of the Year: Conyers Middle School's Seneathia Lewis, Gen. Ray Davis Middle School's Dana Stone, Shoal Creek Elementary's Nicole Smith.

All three received surprise visits by Superintendent Richard Autry, Rockdale County Board of Education members, RCPS cabinet members, and leaders for the announcement on Tuesday, August 29th.

Lewis, Stone, and Smith are in the running to be named the district's 2017 Teacher of the Year. They and all the school-level Teachers of the Year will be honored at the Teacher of the Ceremony on September 25, 2017 at Rockdale Career Academy.

The district level winner will be named at the end of the evening's ceremony. The district level Teacher of the Year will advance to the state level competition.

Seneathia Lewis – Conyers Middle School

Seneathia Lewis has been teaching for 11 years, and is starting her third year teaching Earth Science at Conyers Middle School. Seneathia previously worked in the medical field, in OB-GYN. The mothers of the babies she helped birth would come back and show her their children’s schoolwork. She says, “I got excited that they were excited about school. I wanted to be a part of that.” In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, going to the movies, spending time with family and friends. She is also a proud member of the Delta Sigma Theta sorority. Her most rewarding moments are when former students come back to tell her about the rewards and recognitions they’ve received or email her to let her know how influential she has been in their lives.  She says, “I love seeing them mature from one grade to the next, or even over a school year… Their joys and celebrations are what bring me joy and happiness in teaching.”

Nicole Smith – Shoal Creek Elementary

Nicole Smith has been teaching for 8 years in second grade.  She and her husband of 25 years, Frank, have two adult sons. One is a teacher at Edwards Middle School and one is a State Court Clerk.  In her spare time, she is an avid reader and enjoys traveling and spending time with her family.  Nicole originally majored in accounting but after her own children were in school, she began working as a parapro in an elementary school.  She says, “I just fell in love with the atmosphere. Helping kids to learn really appealed to me.” She went back and got a degree in early childhood education and master’s in curriculum and instruction. She says “I really enjoy what I do. I love to come to work. It’s a challenge, you never know what’s going to go on that particular day. And that’s part of the excitement for me, being able to use the skills that I have to fill in those gaps and meet the child where they’re at… I honestly believe it’s a calling and it’s what I’m supposed to do.”

Dana Stone – General Ray Davis Middle School

Dana Stone is in her fourth year teaching social studies at Davis Middle School. In her spare time, she enjoys running, paddle boarding, hiking and spending time with her fur babies – two pugs named Snooki and Gus.  Dana originally majored in English and did not plan on becoming a teacher. She was working as an assistant to a media specialist at an elementary school and found she really enjoyed teaching the technology class.  Her most rewarding experiences are when former students come back to visit to share an accomplishment or need some advice with a challenging moment. She remembers one student who was struggling academically and behaviorally. She worked with the student during lunch when he was in ISS, so he wouldn’t fall behind. At the end of the unit, he took the test and made a really great grade.  She says, “I remember showing him the test and his reaction. That was probably one of the highlights of teaching – to see him recognize the effort he put in has been worth it… I love seeing growth and progress in students… Teaching comes with a lot of challenges but seeing the impact you make definitely makes it all worth it.”






Pictured below: The top 3 finalists for RCPS 2017 Teacher of the Year - Dana Stone of DMS, Seneathia Lewis of CMS, Nicole Smith of SCE - react as they receive a surprise visit and announcement in their classrooms on Tuesday morning.

The top 3 finalists for RCPS 2017 Teacher of the Year react to the surprise announcements.


Pictured below: Top 3 finalist for RCPS 2017 Teacher of the Year Nicole Smith of Shoal Creek Elementary with RCPS Superintendent Richard Autry.

RCPS 2017 Teacher of the Year top 3 finalist Nicole Smith of Shoal Creek Elementary and Superintendent Richard Autry


Pictured below: Top 3 finalist for RCPS 2017 Teacher of the Year Seneathia Lewis of Conyers Middle School with RCPS Superintendent Richard Autry.

RCPS 2017 TOTY top 3 finalist Seneathia Lewis of Conyers Middle School pictured with Superintendent Richard Autry


Pictured below: Top 3 finalist for RCPS 2017 Teacher of the Year Dana Stone of Gen. Ray Davis Middle School with RCPS Superintendent Richard Autry.

RCPS 2017 Teacher of the Year top 3 finalist Dana Stone of DMS pictured with Superintendent Richard Autry


More photos posted at facebook.com/rockdaleschools