Ty Manning wins 2019 HIGH 5 for Teachers contest

MADISON, Ga. (FOX 5 Atlanta) - You submitted your nominations for Georgia’s best high school teachers, and then you voted online for the finalist most deserving of some recognition.  Now, Ty Manning and Morgan County High School are celebrating a sweet victory in this year’s High 5 for Teachers contest!

FOX 5's Paul Milliken stopped by Morgan County High School Tuesday afternoon along with our partners at Montlick & Associates to present Mr. Manning and the school with the grand prize check for $2500. 

About the experience of being a nominee for this year’s contest, Manning says, "It's been a crazy year, we've been moving around and I've had all this crazy health stuff and drama, but getting nominated has been good medicine.  And all this love I've been getting from everybody, and sharing the link to vote, and voting ... it's just been love overkill. It's been awesome."

As you may remember, Manning is preparing to undergo his third open heart surgery next week, and scheduled the surgery so that it didn’t conflict with several major school-related events. 

He says his goal is to be up and moving in time to attend Morgan County High School’s graduation ceremony later this month. 

Along with being an art teacher, Mr. Manning is also a musician, and some of his fellow musicians are putting together a fundraising effort to help him out with both the surgery and some repairs to his kitchen.  They’ll be holding a benefit concert on May 5 at The Foundry in Athens, which they’ve named “Cinco de Ty-O” – a link to more information about the show may be found on Facebook. 

The musicians are also raising money by selling a TY T-shirt, which is available for purchase online here.

Congratulations again to Manning and Morgan County High School!