Each year, one teacher from each school in Dawson County is recognized and named as a teacher of the year.

Announced at the beginning of May, Teresa Conowal was named as the 2009-2010 Teacher of the Year of Kilough Elementary School.

"My career has been filled with many instances that have defined me as a teacher," Conowal said. "Lessons are revealed not only through the students that I teach, but also through the families from which they come."

A native of Dawson County, Conowal has been teaching for the past 15 years.

She currently teaches second grade at Kilough and has for the past six years.

Previously, she taught third grade for nine years at Robinson and Black's Mill Elementary Schools.

Tracey Compton, assistant principal at Kilough, spoke highly of Conowal.

"Teresa Conowal is the example of an expert teacher," Compton said.

"She works each day to reach each child. She does not have one lesson plan for her class, but many varied plans so that she may meet the needs of every student."

Conowal received her undergraduate and Masters Degrees in early childhood education from Piedmont College, and a Specialist Degree in educational leadership from Lincoln Memorial University.

She is nationally certified in early childhood studies from the Board of National Teaching Standards, and she has just recently received her Master Teacher certification by the Professional Standards Commission of Georgia.

Conowal expressed that the moments spent getting to know her students and their families have engraved themselves permanently into her memory.

"I have realized that role as a teacher reaches far and beyond the deliverance of academics. I truly appreciate that each child who enters my classroom is extraordinary because they bring unique experiences that lend themselves to teaching diversity and acceptance to all of those around them," she said.