Gulf County Teachers of Year Selected

One is a former Baptist preacher, another a Navy retiree.

One speaks three languages and another shuns the limelight.

Jo Ann Raffield, Shirley Thompson, Wayne Taylor, Billy Hoover, Fran Lloyd and Tom Stallworth have many differences.

But they have one thing in common: their excellence in the classroom has earned them the title of 2007-2008 school-wide Teacher of the Year.

They were selected by their colleagues for the honor.

Following classroom evaluations of each teacher, the district staff will announce the county-wide Teacher of the Year next month.

Port St. Joe Elementary School

Raffield has been Port St. Joe Elementary School’s Teacher of the Year twice, having first been chosen in 2001.

She earned her bachelor’s degree from Western Kentucky University and a master’s degree in education from the University of Louisville.

After beginning her teaching career at Port St. Joe Elementary School in 1979, Raffield departed to pursue work at elementary schools in Apalachicola and Louisville, Ky.

She rejoined the Port St. Joe Elementary faculty in August 1993.

Having spent much of her career as a Kindergarten teacher, Raffield was reassigned to the first grade in 2006.

Port St. Joe Elementary School principal Melissa Ramsey said Raffield has thrived in her new position.

“She rose to the challenge and has just done an incredible job,” said Ramsey, adding that turning a “negative into a positive” is one of Raffield’s defining characteristics.

Raffield teaches a core group of first graders as well as a first grade intensive reading group.

Ramsey described Raffield’s teaching style as interactive, with a focus on kinesthetic learning, repetition and positive reinforcement.

Possessing a sweet, nurturing personality, Raffield is well loved by her students.

“They know she cares and that’s why they give her their all,” said Ramsey, who calls Raffield “a natural” at teaching.

“I really believe teaching is her God-given talent,” she said.

Port St. Joe Middle School

A recent addition to Port St. Joe Middle School, Thompson has earned the respect of her peers and principal, Juanise Griffin.

“She’s just an excellent teacher and she doesn’t mind doing anything you ask her to do,” said Griffin.

Thompson earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the Baptist College of Florida and a master’s degree in instructional technology from Troy State University.

She taught previously at the First Baptist Christian and Apalachicola Bay Charter schools in Apalachicola before joining the Port St. Joe Middle School faculty in 2005.

This year, at Griffin’s request, Thompson took on the school’s technology class.

She guides her eighth grade students through the production of a daily television morning program and a school newsletter.

Her students operate all camera and editing equipment and interview teachers and fellow students.

“It’s really a tremendous job and she really does well with it. Bless her heart, we just threw her into it,” said Griffin.

Thompson also teaches eighth grade reading, and has earned her state reading endorsement.

When the middle school lacked a cheerleading sponsor, Thompson willingly assumed that role as well.

Griffin praised Thompson’s rapport with her students and hopes she’ll stick around.

“She is truly a very positive addition to our faculty,” said Griffin. “We feel very fortunate to have her here.”

Port St. Joe High School

Port St. Joe High School Principal Duane McFarland sums up Taylor in two words, “rock steady.”

“He’s not someone out in the limelight, just someone who’s steadily doing his job, on his feet. He’s been steady as a rock,” said McFarland.

After a 20-year career in the Navy, Taylor joined the Port St. Joe High School faculty in 2003.

Taylor, who earned a bachelor’s degree at Saint Leo University, helmed the NJROTC program by himself until this year.

McFarland praised Taylor’s commitment to the school’s naval science program, which he believes offers students who do not participate in sports, band an other activities a positive outlet for self-expression.

McFarland described Taylor as an engaging teacher who has earned the respect of his students.

“The kids know what they’re going to get every day. They’re going to get his best,” he said.

In addition to his NJROTC duties, Taylor also teaches the school’s digital video class, which produces a daily television show, is the school’s resident computer technician, girl’s volleyball coach and junior class co-sponsor.

Taylor currently attends Gulf Coast Community College’s Educator Preparation Institute, and is working towards earning his professional Florida teaching license.

Wewahitchka Elementary School

Linda Whitfield has known her fellow Wewahitchka Elementary School third grade teacher since he was four years old.

She taught Hoover in grade school, and has watched him grow from a “very sweet little boy” to a dynamic, innovative teacher.

Whitfield admired Hoover’s perpetual smile and willingness to engage his students in conversation.

“He and his class really enjoy the little bantering that sometimes eludes some (other teachers),” she said.

Whitfield described Hoover as an “intuitive” teacher concerned about his students’ wellbeing.

“He can assess a child’s needs and address them without making a big deal out of it,” said Whitfield. “He’s very intuitive about a child’s feelings and behavior. He can sense if they’re sad for a reason or upset.”

Hoover earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Florida State University.

He joined the Wewahitchka Elementary School faculty in Aug. 2000, and completed his master’s in educational leadership from the University of West Florida while teaching full-time.

In the classroom, Hoover has created innovative learning games, such as a trivia game patterned after the popular TV game show “Are You Smarter than a Fifth-Grader?”

The former Gulf Education Association president (2005-2007) and contract bargaining team member (2004-2007), Hoover has kept abreast of national and state education issues.

As grade group chairman, he is efficient and reminds his fellow teachers of important deadlines.

Whitfield is proud of the teacher Hoover has become.

“He’s an advocate for children,” she said. “He believes in everyone succeeding.”

Wewahitchka Middle School

There’s just something about the way Lloyd talks.

“She always exposes her students to words and anecdotes and experiences,” said Wewahitchka Middle School principal Pam Lister.

“She always says, ‘He or she does lovely work, lovely work,’ and ‘They are quite bright.’

“Because she’s so smart, she makes her kids feel smart. The way she talks to them makes them feel more polished and more refined.”

Lloyd, who teaches language arts and gifted education, is fluent in three languages.

She earned a bachelor’s degree in English and French from Judson College in Marion, Ala.

She also studied Spanish in Saltillo, Mexico, Gulf Coast Community College and the University of Southern Mississippi.

After varied teaching assignments in Florida, Alabama and Georgia, Lloyd joined the Wewahitchka Middle School faculty in 2000.

Lister credits the school’s improvements on the eighth grade FCAT writing test to Lloyd’s dynamic teaching.

“She has spearheaded our writing efforts every year in eighth grade,” said Lister.

Last year, six students scored a perfect level 6 on the test. Ninety-eight percent of all eighth graders met high standards, scoring a 3.5 or better, up 20 percent from the previous year.

The scores were Wewahitchka Middle School’s highest in its history.

Lloyd encourages her students to enter area writing contests. Two of her students won competitions in Bay County this year.

She also showcases her students’ writing in the school newspaper, which she oversees.

Lloyd’s gifted students learn French and Spanish and study different cultures in-depth.

During her tenure at the middle school, Lloyd has also produced two musicals and taught art and music appreciation wheel classes.

Lister can’t say enough about Lloyd’s efforts to expand her students’ horizons.

“She exposes kids to a lot of fine art and culture that they wouldn’t otherwise get,” she said.

Wewahitchka High School

Before joining the Wewahitchka High School faculty in 2006, Stallworth pursued a higher calling.

A graduate of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Stallworth served as a pastor and youth minister at churches in Charlotte, NC, Lawrence, KS and Blountstown.

Having previously earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Florida, Stallworth graduated from Gulf Coast Community College’s Educator Preparation Institute in October 2007.

Wewahitchka High School prinicipal Larry White said Stallworth’s transition from minister to English teacher has been seamless.

“I think he’s used those skills he learned as a pastor effectively in the classroom,” said White.

White described Stallworth as a caring, compassionate teacher singularly focused on his students’ education.

“There’s no taking a day off,” said White. “He’s a bell-to-bell teacher - always well prepared, always starts class with a writing assignment.”

In addition to giving his students daily writing prompts, Stallworth utilizes the Achieve 3000 computer program.

The program allows students to read articles tailored to their comprehension levels, and enables Stallworth to chart their reading gains.

“He’s retested some of his students and they’ve been encouraged by how their scores have gone up,” said White.

Stallworth also studies the students’ FCAT scores and addresses individual weaknesses.

He works closely with the school’s language arts and reading teachers, and is, according to White, “a team player.”

In addition to his classroom duties, Stallworth coaches cross country, junior varsity boy’s basketball and track.

White appreciates Stallworth’s inventiveness and concern for his students.

“He’s one of those who doesn’t mind coming in the principal’s office and saying, ‘Can we try this,’” said White.

“He just really wants students to be successful and achieve. I feel fortunate to have him as a teacher.”