Since it’s Teacher Appreciation Week, I figured I’d start out by sharing this news: the winner of the 2014 Georgia Teacher of the Award is Jemelleh Coes! She’s a Special Education Language Arts and Reading teacher at Langston Chapel Middle School in Statesboro. Coes was honored at the annual Georgia Teacher of the Year banquet this past Friday at the Georgia International Convention Center.

She has been at Langston Chapel Middle School her entire teaching career.

In her application she wrote:” You have a choice. Choose wisely. This is one of the most important lessons that I hope to instill in the life of every student that I come in contact with. When teaching students, it is important that lessons are choice-driven, authentically student-centered, and goal-oriented.”

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Coes practices what she preaches at Langston Middle School as she runs a program called Delta Academy which cultivates an interest in science, technology, engineering and math in middle schools girls in Southeast Georgia. She also mentors homeless girls at a group home in Bulloch County.

She is the daughter of immigrant parents from Guyana.

Coes will spend the year representing Georgia teachers to the public by speaking about the teaching profession and conduct workshops and programs for educators. She will additionally compete for the 2014 National Teacher of the Year award.