Gwinnett County 's newestTeacher of the Year Jennifer Dunn credits her teachers with helping her rebound from a learning disability and change her career goal from teaching to education.
Dunn, a 5th grade teacher at Pharr Elementary in Snellville, was recognized Thursday night as the 2012 Gwinnett County Teacher of the Year. She was singled out for the honor by School Superindent Alvin Wilbanks, during a ceremony recognizing 129 school-level teachers of the year at the Gwinnett Center, Duluth.
Dunn was one of six finalists for the county teacher of the year, as well as elementary school teacher of the year. North Gwinnett Middle School's Sarah Black was chosen Middle School Teacher of the Year, and Mill Creek High's Aundrea Muth was named 2012 High School School Teacher of the Year.
a Muth of Mill Creek High.
Dunn lives to see her students overcome obstacles and become successful learners, knowing what it was like for her to be challenged with the learning disability of dyslexia. One of her teachers Gwinnett's Brookwood High raised the flag that Dunn's struggles might be due to dyslexia, helping Dunn to realize she wasn't dumb or a failure, but just facing a challenge.
That teacher and another teacher who made her excited about learning mathematics inspired Dunn to change her career plans from acting to education.
"I moved on to college and realized I wanted to be just like [those teachers]. I wanted to make a difference in students’ lives. I wanted to
teach kids that learning can be fun and meaningful," she said.
At Pharr Elementary, Dunn works with students who need additional support in transitioning from 4th to 5th grade.
“I see myself in every one of them and take joy in building them up all year,” she said. “I love opening their eyes to the world of math, finding out how they learn, and watching them succeed.
Seeing their confidence and joy as they leave my classroom is not only my greatest achievement as an educator, but a personal joy that I owe to two teachers who shared that joy with me.”
A graduate of Gwinnett’s Brookwood High in Snellville, Dunn has taught 5th graders at Pharr Elementary for four years. She
entered the profession as a teacher at McKendree Elementary in 2004. After some time away from Gwinnett, she returned in 2007.
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