Screven County schools announce new Teachers of the Year

Screven County School System announced its 2022-2023 Teachers of the Year on Friday, May 20. The winners include Lynn Martinez for Screven County Elementary, Lovey Sheppard for Screven County Middle and Mindy Skinner for Screven County High.

Who is Lynn Martinez?

Martinez received her bachelor's and master's degree in intellectual disabilities from Georgia Southern University. She's been teaching for 28 years, 26 of which has been at Screven County Elementary, where she is currently a special education teacher.

When asked about her teaching style, Martinez said she believes in "whatever works" because "every kid learns different, every kid is different … I am an outside-the-box kind of thinker."

Her fans share similar stories, like Terry Kile, a father to one of Martinez's students from several years ago. Kile recalls how Martinez once used aluminum foil, tape and some markings on the foil to create a visual representation for teaching math.

"She finds the way that they learn and she just attacks it," Kile said. "She's a phenomenal teacher."

Martinez believes that great teachers are those who really love what they do and the kids they're teaching.

She went on to say how being named Teacher of the Year is very humbling, and wishes to extend the award to her paraprofessional Tammy Parker.

"I can't do my job without her," Martinez said.

Who is Lovey Sheppard?

Sheppard double majored in history and religious studies at Presbyterian College in Clinton, S.C., and got her master's in teaching at Georgia Southern. Screven County Middle hired her for her first education job in 2016. She teaches seventh grade social studies and ELA and her instruction style is, in part, similar to what she does as the school's head coach of girl's tennis.

"I present the task at hand, we give a lot of examples, and then let them practice along the way," Sheppard said. "School is like any sport you play, or even video games: practice makes perfect."

Like the other Teacher of the Year winners, Sheppard received a lot of positive outpouring on social media for winning the title. Sheppard's partner Michelle Clark said via Messenger, "It’s apparent that Lovey genuinely cares about the students and their education. Even in her off time, Lovey is constantly looking for new and engaging ways to get the students excited about the subject matter. Our school system, the students, and our community are lucky to have her!"

Sheppard said she was incredibly touched by the feedback, particularly from people like Kelly Chandler and Brenda Griner who were among the educators who have helped her along the way.

It's also people like this that inspired Sheppard's best advice for other teachers: "Find the people who are gonna be in your corner" and "pick people's brains every day."

Who is Mindy Skinner?

Skinner is another Georgia Southern graduate, with a bachelor's degree in early childhood education and a master's in special education with an emphasis in behavior disorders. She's taught for 26 years, 19 of which have been at Screven County High, where she is currently a teacher of and department head for special education.

"It's important for me to teach the whole child," Skinner said. "In order for a student to learn, they've got to feel safe, they've got to be healthy, and it's important for me to get to know each child that I teach … and I like to engage them and support them and to challenge them."

One of Skinner's colleagues, Christa Gay, said via Messenger, "Mrs. Mindy has always been a great role model and mentor for the SpEd department as well as her students. She has a servant's heart! She works relentlessly, never expecting recognition, and does it with a smile!"

Skinner also said the honor and praise for being named Teacher of the Year has been very humbling, and she is simply living by her philosophy that "This is where God wants me to be."

To other teachers and those interested in getting into the profession, Skinner's advice is to be consistent and proactive, not reactive.

In earning the Teacher of the Year award, she thanks Joyce Jamerson for her friendship and mentorship since she came to the school.