Cobb superintendent surprises teachers with ‘Teacher of the Year’ honor

COBB COUNTY, Ga. — Students at Cobb County schools won’t be the only one getting first-day-back-to-school jitters. While teachers are getting ready for the new school year, three Cobb teachers may have the best one yet.

In a release sent out on Tuesday, Superintendent Chris Ragsdale surprised three teachers by letting them know they are the 2022 Cobb Schools Teachers of the Year.

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Jenifer Mitacek of Argyle Elementary School, Derrick Tucker of Awtrey Middle School and Jordan Motsinger of Harrison High School were the recipients of the honor.

Cobb County School District starts school on Aug. 1.

“This is one of my favorite days of the school year! I look forward to welcoming our teachers back on the first day and recognizing our outstanding educators who make Cobb Schools the best place to teach, lead, and learn,” said Superintendent Chris Ragsdale.

According to the release, second grade teacher Mitacek says she looks forward to the first day because she misses her students. They are the reason why she teaches. She plans to use her honor as an opportunity to be a role model for others.

“Students bring me so much joy and so much passion. They truly help me feel like a better person. You go into teaching to help them become better people. I really feel like I get that reward and gift back from them tenfold,” Mitacek said.

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Middle school teacher Tucker says students are the reason he returns to the classroom each year.

“I love teaching because it is an opportunity to be able to meet different kids. There is just something about being able to talk to students, to see how they can grow, how you can help them, and be a part of their life,” Mr. Tucker explained.

Tucker has been with Cobb since 2015, and shares advice with others who are looking to become teachers.

“I would encourage anyone who has the opportunity to apply for the Cobb County School District to come and work with us,” the veteran educator advised. “Cobb has been great just from the people that I’ve worked with and the relationships. I feel there is no place like it.”

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English teacher Motsinger has taught at Harrison High School her entire teaching career and loves being able to share her passion for literature. She says she hopes her students are inspired by her class in the same way her high school teacher inspired her.

“I teach because I was raised by an educator who instilled in me at a very young age a love for literature and writing. My mom taught me to see how wonderful teenagers can be and how much they have to bring to the table in terms of their creativity and their ideas. So, my mom really inspired me to teach, and now I do it because I can’t imagine doing anything else,” Motsinger said.

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