Deal commends 2014 Master Teachers

Gov. Nathan Deal today announced the names of 24 Georgia teachers who have earned the “Master Teacher” certification, based on demonstrated excellence in student achievement and student growth for 2014.

“Georgia’s Master Teachers devote their careers to cultivating the minds of our future generations,” said Deal. “There is a critical link between effective teachers and students' achievements, and our Master Teachers embody what it means to be an effective teacher. I am proud of these individuals for the example they are setting and for their dedication to our students and our state as a whole.”

Georgia’s Master Teacher Certification Program was established in 2005 and is coordinated by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (PSC). Based on classroom performance on the Criterion-Referenced Competency Test (CRCT), documentation of student growth and exemplary professional practices, superior teachers are designated as “Master Teachers” for a period of seven years. 

“The 2014 Master Teachers join a group of Georgia’s highly skilled and dedicated educators who share a passion for teaching and student learning,” said Kelly Henson, executive secretary for PSC. “The Professional Standards Commission, along with the teachers' schools and communities, recognize and celebrate their accomplishments.”

2014 was the last application cycle for the Master Teacher Certification program. In the near future, with the upcoming implementation of the new system of tiered certification, exemplary teachers will be able to attain an Advanced Professional Certification. It is anticipated that sufficient data will be available by the end of the 2015-16 school year to establish eligibility criteria for this certification and therefore be able to begin the application process during the 2016-17 school year.

Below is the list of teachers who have earned the “Master Teacher” Certification in 2014: