Woodstock Middle School teacher Stephanie Vidrine shapes math lessons into stories that remain in students hearts and minds long after the equations are solved. Her extraordinary gift for teaching her students, especially those who struggle with math, resulted in her becoming Cherokee County School Districts 2018 Teacher of the Year.

Mathematics, the 20-year teacher said, is so much more than manipulating numbers and following procedures. It is art, beauty, creativity, patterns and connections to other mathematical concepts and life experiences. Her addition of storytelling to math concepts totals a successful combination for students, who appreciate her so much that they stay in touch long after theyve advanced, graduated and even pursued their own careers in math.

The CCSD Teacher of the Year is selected by a panel of community leaders who evaluate applications from each schools Teacher of the Year; school winners are selected by their peers. Ms. Vidrine will now serve as CCSDs nominee for Georgia Teacher of the Year; the winner will be named in the spring.

Principal David Childress recruited Ms. Vidrine to Woodstock Middle School from Etowah High School, where he previously worked alongside her as a fellow math teacher. The proof of her powers, he said, is in the numbers: all of her students earned proficient or better scores on their State exams, and pulled CCSDs highest marks for performance growth.