COBB COUNTY, Ga. — More than 100 educators from all over Cobb County were honored by their school districts Tuesday morning. Students from Cobb County Schools and Marietta City Schools went to Wheeler High School to cheer on their favorite teacher during a pep rally.
Senior Emma Johnson and classmate Annakate Brennaman were there cheering on their biology teacher, Ms. Trotter.
"She has such a big heart and she always wants to help her students," Brennaman said.
The two are cheerleaders for their school.
"We get to show our appreciation to our teachers because they play a big role in our community and for kids as they grow up," Johnson added.
Students of all rallied while holding large cardboard cut outs, kettlebells, and pom poms.
One teacher from each Cobb County school and Marietta City school was in attendance, including Candace Torrence.
"I feel like a celebrity everywhere I go now," Torrence said. "People are like, 'Oh, you're the Marietta Schools Teacher of the Year!'"
Torrence is going on her 13th year as an educator.
"Educators are the most crucial profession in the world," she said. "We're shaping our youth. We're building our future. You don't do it for the money,"Torrence explained. "You don't do it for anything other than seeing your students reach their goal and achieve things you never thought they would."
Torrence knows it's a thankless job that requires a lot of sacrifice. Tuesday morning, that thankless job was met with praise.
This event was part of the Cobb County Chamber of Commerce's 34th year of hosting the 'Give Our Schools a Hand' celebrations.
President and CEO of the Chamber, Sharon Mason, was in attendance.
"Our teachers and our school system play such a vital role in our community, in our economy, so making sure our students are prepared for being wonderful workers later and wonderful citizens later in life" she said.
In August, Superintendent Chris Ragsdale announced Dr. Elizabeth Goff of Bells Ferry Elementary School as the District’s Teacher of the Year, and before the school year began, he announced the three District Level Teachers of the Year. Cobb’s three District Level TOTYs and Marietta City’s District Level winner will participate in a drawing to determine which brand of new car they will drive free for a year courtesy Ed Voyles Automotive Group.
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