The Garner Educational Foundation, the Town and the Chamber of Commerce recognized the outstanding achievements of Garner’s teachers May 11 during a ceremony at the Garner Historic Auditorium. All of the award recipients received a hurricane globe to signify their ability and responsibility to Garner’s children. “You’re the one that protects the light,” Amy White said to the teachers, teacher assistants and administrators during the ceremony. Shannon West and Scott McCreery performed during the ceremony.



Protecting the light

Teacher of the Year recipients

Alice Verstrat (Garner Magnet High)

Jacquette Passley (N. Garner Middle)

Aubrey Comperatore (Creech Road Elementary)

Mindy King (Vance Elementary)

Sandra Bjorling (Timber Drive Elementary)

Meeka Shaw (Rand Road Elementary)

Katie Bush (Smith Magnet Elementary)

Hope Howard (E. Garner Elementary)

Marla Martin (Vandora Springs Elementary)

Shane Maisonet (E. Garner Magnet Middle)

Sara Johnson (Aversboro Elementary)

Diane Kentar-Parker First Year Teacher of the Year recipient

Karen Hall (Aversboro Elementary)

Teacher Assistants of the Year recipients

Miranda Houston (N. Garner Middle)

Jennifer Durball (Vance Elementary)

Darlene Barnard (Timber Drive Elementary)

Pamela Grissom (Rand Road Elementary)

Evelyn Burgess (Smith Magnet Elementary)

Cindy Johnson (E. Garner Elementary)

Monsie Gillis (Vandora Springs Elementary)

Tonja Bauza (E. Garner Magnet Middle)

Marsha Whittington (Aversboro Elementary)

National Board Certification recipients

Sarah Hill (Aversboro Elementary)

Patricia Worthington (E. Garner Magnet Middle)

Sarah Cannon (Garner Magnet High)

Ted Hope (Garner Magnet High)

Saron Howell (Garner Magnet High)

Marcia Timmel (N. Garner Middle)

Laura McDougal (Rand Road Elementary)

Brandy Penny (Smith Magnet Elementary)

Board Certification Renewals

Carla Hoffman (E. Garner Magnet Middle)

Principal of the Year recipient

John Wall (N. Garner Middle)