More than half of Muscogee County School District's 2019 Teacher of the Year award nominees earned degrees from Columbus State University. MCSD recently announced the 57 nominees, with 33 being CSU alumni. The high percentage of CSU graduates among the nominees is typical, and the last three MCSD Teacher of the Year winners were CSU graduates.

"It is very rewarding to see our graduates doing so well in the classroom and being recognized as leaders in their schools," said CSU College of Education and Health Professions Dean Deidre Greer. "We are extremely proud of the work they do in their classrooms and schools."

The news comes on the heels of an announcement that MCSD will guarantee teaching contracts to all graduates of CSU's education program who meet the necessary requirements. Other initiatives brought forth by partnership with MCSD and CSU include the annual one-day E3 conference, which has trained hundreds of MCSD educators (pre-K to doctoral) over the last two years in October.

The Teacher of the Year nominees, which are selected by staff at their schools, represent MCSD schools across the district. The Muscogee Educational Excellence Foundation's selection committee will evaluate the applications and choose semifinalists to interview and finalists to observe teaching. The winner will be announced during an April 25 gala at the Columbus Convention & Trade Center.