The Muscogee Educational Excellence Foundation (MEEF) named Tasha Morman, a 5^th Grade Science and Social Studies teacher at St. Mary’s Magnet Academy, the 2023 MCSD Teacher of the Year. The announcement was made in front of a record-breaking sell-out crowd of more than 1,100 teachers and community leaders on Thursday, May 4^th, 2023 at the Columbus Convention and Trade Center in Columbus, GA. The announcement was the culmination of the Muscogee Educational Excellence Foundation’s Teacher of the Year program for the Muscogee County School District. 

The Selection Committee was impressed with Tasha’s connection with her students and her commitment to helping make them vital members of their community. Selection Committee Chair, Josh Reynolds was awe-struck with the students engagement  in Tasha’s classroom. “Tasha has a unique way of connecting with her students. The students were engaged and excited to participate in the lesson she was teaching. You could tell that she has the trust and respect of each student.” 

Morman was chosen from 55 Teacher of the Year (TOTY) Honorees representing each school in the Muscogee County School District. In her time at St. Mary’s Tasha has learned some important lessons. “I pay attention to my students’ non-verbal cues, any shifts in their conduct or body language. I hear the sigh because everyone else is getting it, but that one student is still trying their best. These serve as indicators for a shift in my teaching and brings out the best in my students. Once I became a teacher, it became my true love and passion. I want to provide the motivation, love and support my students need.”

2019-2020 Teacher of the Year Dacia Sheffield served on the TOTY Selection Committee and observed that Morman was is a “…passionate teacher who put each student and their needs at the core of each lesson. She works to ensure each student connects to the lesson and understands the outcomes needed, even shifting how she teaches to ensure that happens.”

Each of the school TOTY Honorees are recognized and honored throughout the year in a variety of ways. In March, all the TOTYs were honored at an MCSD-sponsored breakfast with the MCSD TOTY and the national TOTY. At the Gala every TOTY received a framed certificate of recognition and a $100 honorarium.  The Top Ten honorees also received a framed certificate of recognition and $500 honorarium. The Top Three received a $1000 honorarium and the MCSD Teacher of the Year is featured on a OUTFRONT Media digital billboard, a full-page Ledger ad, and received a $5000 honorarium.

MEEF Chairman, Josh Reynolds noted that this year the sponsors were extremely supportive, “We are especially grateful to our generous supporters who enable MEEF to reward and recognize exceptional teachers including Aflac, W.C. Bradley Company, Kinetic Credit Union, Synovus, TSYS, Brasfield & Gorrie, Janet Davis, CENTEGIX, Hecht Burdeshaw Architects, Layer3 Communications, Representative Richard H. Smith, The Honorable Judy W. Thomas, Outdoor Solutions, TSYS, Virtucom, 2WR + Partners, Burger King, Colony Bank, Columbus State University, Columbus Water Works, Complete Tire and Service, EMC Engineering Services, Inc., Freeman and Associates, FabArts, Goggans, Stutzman, Hudson, Wilson & Mize, Hall Booth Smith, P.C., Hughston Clinic, Key 2 Wall Street, Lexia Learning, Muscogee Retired Educators Association, OUTFRONT Media, Piedmont Columbus Regional, Bill Reaves, Judge Art Smith, Robinson, Grimes & Company, P.C., Spud Bowen & Associates, and Bart Steed” 

MEEF is a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering educational excellence by recognizing and rewarding innovative and exceptionally effective teachers in the Muscogee County School District. The Foundation has awarded over $3 million to teachers in MCSD, through financial incentives in the TOTY program, the MEEF Grant program, the MEEF Endowment Fund, the STEM T³ program, and the Harvard Fellows program, and the Buntin Scholars Program.