Erin Bunch always hopes to be a “positive light” to both her co-workers and students, just as they have with her.
“I’m really grateful to work in a school system that is so supportive of their teachers, and where the teachers really work together and the community works with the school system so well,” she said. “Everybody just has the best interest of the kids at heart.”
As a testament to her goals, Bunch was nominated by her peers and staff members as the Oglethorpe County High School Teacher of the Year and also represented the county as System Teacher of the Year for the second time.
“I feel very appreciative of my peers that they think highly enough of me to select me to represent our system as teacher of the year,” said Bunch, who has worked for the school system for 10 years. “And I hope that I represented us well through the application process.”
To be considered for statewide recognition, Bunch said she answered a series of essay questions about “how (she creates) a positive, engaging and inclusive learning environment, (her) philosophy of teaching (and) effective teaching strategies” and also had an interview with a panel of judges.
“They pick the top 10 finalists, and then whoever wins the (system) teacher of the year would then compete for the national teacher of the year,” she said. “I was not a top 10 finalist or anything, but that does exist.”
Bunch, OCPS teacher Adriane Echols, OCES teacher Leanne Carter and OCMS teacher Jill Barnes were also recognized as teachers of the year at a Board of Education meeting last October and given gift baskets from the school, she said.
She was also recognized at an end-of-the-year barbecue in the OCHS cafeteria on May 27 and attended a Georgia System Teacher of the Year gala at Lake Lanier on May 30.
Bunch said she hopes she demonstrates an attitude of kindness and respect to both her coworkers and students.
After taking four classes with Bunch, former student Montana Barner said she has felt “very (welcomed) and loved” in her classroom.
“She always made my day so much better, and she always encouraged me,” she said. “She just truly (cares) about each and every one of us, and having (Bunch) there for you (and) cheering you on all the time, it makes a huge difference.”
Barner said it was a “big deal” for Bunch to be nominated as teacher of the year for the high school and the county because “she has worked so hard” and “truly makes such an impact on her students.”
“I’m so glad that she’s being recognized for the amazing impact she has at the school with all of her students,” she said. “Not even just her students, but anybody that walks by her door.”