‘Ms. C’ named District Teacher of the Year

By Carrie A. Mizell

A teacher. A mentor. A mother-figure. A guidance counselor. If you ask Ms. Leanne Criscitiello’s seventh grade class to describe their reading teacher, “Ms. C,” they would say she is all these things and more.
On Monday a new title was given to Ms. Criscitiello, as she was named Gilchrist County School District’s 2010 Teacher of the Year.

Superintendent Don Thomas presented District Teacher of the Year Leanne Criscitiello with a plaque as Trenton Middle-High School Principal Lynette Langford looks on.

“She is the only teacher I have ever known who can truly say she loves all of her kids,” said Lynette Langford, principal of Trenton Middle-High School, where Criscitiello has taught for seven years.
Langford said the petite lady, with a big smile and even bigger heart, was one of the first teachers she hired after being named principal of TMHS. Since joining the staff, she has taught both high school math and sixth grade reading, before being moved to seventh grade reading.
While introducing Criscitiello to Trenton Rotarians on Monday, Langford said that she asked a panel of seventh grade students recently what they liked about TMHS and the unanimous answer was Ms. C.
Ms. Criscitiello was selected District Teacher of the Year after being interviewed by a panel of out-of-county judges, who also interviewed the Teachers of the Year from the other three schools in the county. Bell High School was represented by Teacher of the Year Brad Surrency, Trenton Elementary School was represented by Teacher of the Year Lucia Avila, and Bell Elementary School Teacher of the Year Rhonda Scott was also present.
Trenton Rotary Club sponsors the District Teacher of the Year and District Employee of the Year awards each year. After Ms. Criscitiello was named District Teacher of the Year, Rotary Club president Damon Leggett said, “It’s great to be able to put a face with the name now. I have three children at home who love Ms. C!”

District Employee of the Year Joy Railey was all smiles as Superintendent Don Thomas and Bell Elementary School Principal Sherry Lindsey congratulate her on winning such a prestigious honor on Monday.

Bell Elementary School’s biggest cheerleader, Joy Railey, was selected District Employee of the Year. Despite her dedication to the students and staff at BES, Railey was clearly surprised to be given such an honor.
BES principal Sherry Lindsey was not one bit surprised. Lindsey introduced Railey to Trenton Rotarians saying, “She loves to decorate and she is quite an actress!” A paraprofessional at BES for the last 12 years, Railey spends much of her time working in the computer lab.
Railey was chosen from a group of dedicated Employees of the Year representing area schools, Lori Summers from Trenton Elementary School, John Rowe, Jr. from Trenton High School and Sue Boyd from Bell High School. Each of the Employees of the Year was interviewed by an out-of-county panel, who determined the District Employee of the Year.

Pictured back row, l-r, Superintendent Don Thomas, BMHS Principal Rick Reed, BHS Employee of the Year Sue Boyd, BES Principal Sherry Lindsey, TMHS Principal Lynette Langford, TMHS Employee of the Year John Rowe, Jr. and TES Principal Riley Deen. Front row, l-r, BHS Teacher of the Year Brad Surrency, BES Teacher of the Year Rhonda Scott, District Employee of the Year Joy Railey, District Teacher of the Year Leanne Criscitiello, TES Teacher of the Year Lucia Avila and TES Employee of the year Lori Summers.