Several eighth-grade classes helped Yvonne Ring, Rabun County Middle
School language arts teacher, celebrate when the announcement was made
that she had been named the Rabun County Schools Teacher of the Year.
Ring said her class cheered when Principal Charles Wright made the
announcement over the intercom last week. Kimberly Buck's class next
door sang "For She is a Jolly Good Fellow" out in the hallway.
Ring said she was humbled to be honored by her peers, students,
administrators and teachers from other schools.
"Rabun County Middle School is full of teachers of the year," she said.
"They all contribute to my success."
Ring
has taught in Rabun County for nine years. Originally a special
education teacher, she now teaches eighth-grade language arts and
Georgia studies. Growing up in South Florida, Ring said she didn't take
for granted the resources available in Rabun County's schools. "If we
could just see the benefits of our resources," she said.
She said teachers at RCMS worked as a team to deal with all the worries
of the curriculum, testing and finances with the current economy. She
said her team of teachers was "leading from within" to make the best of
every situation.
Scott Cook, science teacher and Ring's colleague, said she often worked
16-hour days. "She is the most dedicated, compassionate teacher I've
ever seen," he said. "... I would be lost without her."
Cook said he had witnessed students who other teachers considered "a
waste of time" follow Ring around like a puppy. Although students would
never admit it, "They adore her," he joked.
As for her teaching style, Ring said she did a lot of hands-on
activities to teach her students the standards. She uses different
flavored popcorn to evoke all of her students' senses. She said the
tasty activity helped students develop their descriptive writing skills.
"It's a fun break from the drudgery of outlines, drafts and essays," she
said.
Her students have based many of their essays on environmental issues
like renewable resources and sustainability. During their research,
students found that McDonald's Restaurants overfished hoki fish for its
Filet-o-Fish sandwiches and had to write an essay explaining to
McDonald's why it should or shouldn't continue to use the ugly deep
dwellers.
Ring said she tried to encourage individual writing styles while still
teaching proper grammar and spelling. "I love reading their writing, but
I hate grading it," she said. She said it once took her about 22 hours
to grade 60 essays.
With her background in special education, Ring easily adjusts her
teaching style to accommodate her students' needs. She said some
students learned more by taking notes while others learned the material
just by listening.
She said she couldn't ask for better students and enjoyed teaching
eighth grade.
"I like the challenge of preparing them for their future," she said.
"They are just on that cusp of teenager and young adult."
Her students submitted essays for a Student Choice Awards radio contest
explaining why Ring should win. One essay read, "Mrs. Ring pushes all of
her students to go beyond their abilities and to make the most of
themselves."
Many other students described their teacher as loud and hilarious.
Superintendent Matt Arthur said Ring put in a lot of time at the school,
and her students reflect her dedication.
"You go by there in the evening and she's still there." he said. He said
her special education background gave her a "lot of tools in her
handbag" to teach students.
