An Atlanta professor named Georgia 2020 Professor of the Year

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Tracey Nance Pendley, a fourth year teacher at the Burgess Peterson Academy of Public Schools in Atlanta, has won the 2020 Teacher of the Year award in Georgia tonight.

"Tracey's recognition as Georgia's Teacher of the Year is a testament to her love and passion for our students and her teaching, as well as her tremendous impact on the lives and futures of our students," said Superintendent APS Meria Carstarphen. "It's an incredible honor for Tracey and APS, because it's the first time in almost forty years that one of our teachers has won this award. We are very proud of Tracey for being a shining example of what is and what teaching excellence should be, and we are grateful to him for being part of our APS family. "

Pendley currently holds the APS Teaching Excellence Award, which recognizes the best, brightest and most accomplished classroom teachers in the district. She is also a recipient of the Atlanta Families' 2018 Award for Excellence in Education.

According to the state education department:

Pendley earned a BA in Sociology and Religion from Furman University in 2006 and a MA in Teaching in 2009 from the University of Chicago's Urban Teacher Education Program. She has been teaching in Atlanta Public Schools since 2012; before that, she taught in Chicago Public Schools.

"Tracey Pendley was a child who benefited deeply and irreversibly from her own education and chose to pay this to her own students," said Georgia Superintendent Richard Woods. "The passion and joy she brings to her class is a source of inspiration, and she focuses exactly as she should: on the relationships with students that serve as the foundation for all learning, development and significant growth. I am honored to call him professor of the year 2020 in Georgia. "

In his childhood, Pendley found hope in his education and described his own life as "the story of the impact of great Georgian educators on students".

"While attending nine different schools and managing the uncertainties of life with a single addicted parent, my teachers provided the stability and encouragement that my twin brother and I needed," she said. declared. "Many superhero teachers have shown the tremendous impact of an engaging, loving and inspiring education about a child's life. Our teachers were our cheerleaders, our models and sometimes even our guardians. "

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While at Furman University, Pendley headed Clubhouse Gang, an after-school program for inner-city students. In the company of volunteers, she met with students twice a week to coach and help them with their homework. After her university studies, she started with a doctorate in sociology, but understood that she belonged to the field, with students.

"When students leave my class, I want them to know that they are loved, that they have exceptional talent, and that learning from mistakes is critical to success," said Pendley. "I never want students to be held back by the numbers they receive on paper, but rather that students know that their growth is what counts: growth as a confident, honest individual, their relationships and their academic development. capabilities. "

As Georgia's teacher of the year, Pendley will represent teachers in Georgia by speaking to the public about the teaching profession and possibly organizing workshops and programs for educators. She will also participate in the competitive selection process of the National Teacher of the Year 2020.

2020 Teacher Finalists of the Year 2020 in Georgia

Tracey Pendley, 2020 year-round teacher in Georgia, Burgess Peterson Academy, Atlanta Public Schools

Stephanie Peterson, Runner-Up 2020, Westside Elementary School, Lowndes County Schools

Kristen Applebee, Georgia Academy for the Blind, Public Schools

Amy Arnold, Colham Ferry Elementary School, Oconee County Schools

David Bishop Collins, Fernbank Science Center, DeKalb County Schools

Carlos Hernandez, Ray Davis College, Rockdale County Schools

Lewis Kelly, Newton High School, Newton County Schools

Kiana Pinckney, Palmetto Elementary School, Fulton County Schools

Teresa Thompson, South Tattnall High School, Tattnall County Schools

Francisco "Frank" Zamora, Johnson High School, Hall County Schools