Wilkes County Teacher of the Year Jillian Andrews (front right) was named Monday night by Superintendent Joyce Williams. She was honored along with (back row) Elizabeth Lunceford, W-WPS Teacher of the Year; Al Dawkins, W-WMS Teacher of the Year; and Donny Swinson, W-WCHS Teacher of the Year, at a reception Monday night. Pre-K teacher Jillian Andrews was named Wilkes County Teacher of the Year Monday night at a reception prior to the October Wilkes Board of Education meeting.

"I am extremely excited to be the Teacher of the Year for Wilkes County," Andrews said. "I'm honored to be chosen from this very deserving group of teachers. My para-professional Mrs. Shirley Mills is my support each day in the classroom and I am very grateful for all of her hard work and dedication. I look forward to sharing this honor with my family and friends."

Andews, the Washington-Wilkes Elementary Teacher of the Year, was honored along with Elizabeth Lunceford, W-WPS Teacher of the Year; Al Dawkins, W-WMS Teacher of the Year; and Donny Swinson, WWCHS Teacher of the Year.

Principal Wanda Barton Jenkins said that Jillian Andrews has had an exciting five years at the elementary school. "She's had lots of excitement - she's gotten married, she got her Master's, got Teacher of the Year, and she and her husband have just found out they're expecting."

Andrews, the Pre-K grade chairman, does a wonderful job of meeting the needs of each child, Jenkins said, by adapting her instruction to meet the differing needs of the individual students.

The Teachers of the Year are nominated by their peers, Superintendent Joyce Williams said, and final selections are interviewed by a team of educators from outside the county. "These teachers represent the cream of the crop, our very best educators," she said.

Each school winner receives an engraved plaque and a $500 cash award. As system-wide winner, Andrews received an additional $500, and her name is added to the system-wide Teacher of the Year plaque on display at the board office.

As Wilkes County's Teacher of the Year, she will represent the county in the state Teacher of the Year 2010 competition and will be honored at a state banquet in the spring.