Clayton County coach wins High 5 for Teachers contest
Mundy's Mill High School PE teacher Arquavis Searcy earned $2,500 for his school after winning this year's High 5 for Teachers contest. Paul Milliken was there to give him his trophy in front of a gym full of students.
High 5 for Teachers: Bryan Thompson
It may be Bryan Thompson's first year at Eagles Landing High School, but he's already been inspiring his students to get excited about learning American history.
High 5 for Teachers: Arquavis Searcy
Mundy Middle School PE teacher Arquavis Searcy goes above and beyond to help his students bring home the gold, but he says the greatest reward happens off the court.
High 5 for Teachers: Dr. Kawalie Fataki
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. High School French teacher Dr. Kawalie Fataki was inspired by the civil rights leader to come to Atlanta. Now the teacher and native of Uganda uses his class to share his culture and life with his students.
High 5 for Teachers: Candence Jones
Candence Jones is a 12th grade English teacher at Charles R. Drew High School in Riverdale. She became a teacher after studying criminal justice law and working as a corrections officer. But she's not just a teacher. She's also the head girls basketball coach, boys tennis coach, student government association sponsor, 12th grade sponsor, school brand ambassador and more. And it's that level of commitment that her students value the most.
High 5 for Teachers: Meet Kevin Brown
Kevin Brown is the director of bands at Villa Rica High School. He says he knew he wanted to be a band director in the 6th grade because he had a very inspiring middle school and high school band director. A student described Brown's class as a "place of healing" and a "place to belong without fear of judgement."
High 5 for Teachers: Chandra Westafer
As the recipient of a life-saving transplant, Lumpkin High School's Chandra Westafer knows how important science can be. Every day she works to pass on that love of science to the students she teaches.
High 5 for Teachers: Elisha Jones
Elisha Jones is the band director at Forest Park High School and, once upon a time, a tenor saxophone player in the same room he now teaches in.
High 5 for Teachers: Robert Brown
Robert Brown has taught agriculture science at Warren Technical School in DeKalb County for 39 years.
High 5 for Teachers: Davida Shepherd
Davida Shepherd is a special education teacher at White County High School and is always finding new ways to help her students reach their goals.
High 5 for Teachers: Kathleen Petka
For 19 years, Kathleen Petka has been inspiring her art students at Walton High School in Cobb County to use their artistic gifts for good.
High 5 for Teachers: Ken Austin
Tri-Cities High School special education teacher Ken Austin's believes he and his students are a team and his goal is to make sure every player shines.
High 5 for Teachers: Janet Brown
When a massive tornado ripped through Newnan, high school math teacher and coach Janet Brown took action and helped her students recover from the shock. She's spent the year reaching out to those around her and helping them in any way she can.
High 5 for Teachers: Robert 'Chief' Robinson
Chattooga County High School's Robert Robinson went from the Marines to the police force to teaching students about criminal justice. He says his goal as a teacher is to 'save a world' by making a difference in the lives of his students.
High 5 for Teachers: Ashley Welsch
Last April, Ashley Welch was diagnosed with stage 4 liver cancer. Despite her life-changing diagnosis, the East Forsyth High School English teacher still goes above and beyond to be there for her students.
HIGH 5 for Teachers: Wendy Ross
Kennesaw Mount High School teacher Wendy Ross was inspired as a young girl by a teacher who taught her American Sign Language. She's spent the last 25 years teaching deaf and hard of hearing students, and her work extends far beyond the classroom door.
High 5 for Teachers: Tara Thieleke
Tara Thieleke is an art teacher at Rockdale County High School whose tireless dedication is inspiring.
HIGH 5 for Teachers: Lori Bush
Pike County High School's Lori Bush is a drama teacher who is worth a standing ovation.
Curtis Woodhouse wins High 5 for Teachers contest
Mr. Curtis Woodhouse of West Lake High School took the vote in this year's contest, receiving the grand prize of $2,500 for his school, furnished by Montlick & Associates.
Meet the finalists in this year’s High 5 for Teachers contest
You submitted your nominations for Georgia’s most outstanding high school teachers, and we’ve narrowed down the list to five very deserving finalists.