Christina Logue, who teaches physical science at Hutto Middle School, was honored as the 2010 Teacher of the Year for Decatur County Schools at Thursday night’s Board of Education meeting.

Logue, who was also honored as Hutto’s Teacher of the Year, is married to Hutto math teacher Justin Logue, a former Decatur County Sheriff’s deputy.

2009 Teacher of the Year Kelly Whitehead, a member of the committee that helped select Logue, said Logue “exemplifies excellent classroom management and moves beyond the textbook to create relevant learning every day.”

Logue said she was passionate about teaching and being with her students.

Other teachers selected as their schools’ Teacher of the Year included Donna Roland, Bainbridge High School; Amber Esquivel, Elcan-King Elementary; Krista Whittaker, John Johnson Elementary; Diane Welch, Jones-Wheat Elementary; Patsy Smith, the former Lillian E. Williams Elementary; Holly Burdick, Potter Street Elementary; Stephanie Landeen, West Bainbridge Elementary; and Joseph Miller, the former West Bainbridge Middle School. Potter Street Principal Lillian Brown accepted on behalf of Burdick, who was ill and unable to attend the award ceremony.

Whitehead explained the selection committee is comprised of past and present teachers of the year and follows guidelines set by national school recognition agencies. After each school selects its Teacher of the Year, each of the nominees for districtwide Teacher of the Year receives an application that in part requires the teachers to compose several essays about their teaching practices and philosophies. Then, the selection committee observes each teacher in a classroom setting during a two-day period.

Whitehead said it was “a great privilege” for committee members to “witness the dynamic teaching” going on in local classrooms.

All of Decatur County’s public school teachers will receive further inspiration on Oct. 8, the schools’ teacher development day, when students will be on their fall break. On that day, all teachers will participate in a workshop led by John Antonetti, a nationally recognized education speaker, said Susan Johnson, assistant superintendent for K-5 curriculum.

Facility usage fees modified

In response to concerns that the school system’s recently announced $1,000 fee for usage of school facilities by businesses and community groups may have been too steep, Superintendent Ralph Jones announced a tiered-pricing structure during the board’s dinner meeting on Thursday night.

Jones clarified that each individual school’s gymnasium were not available for rent, with the exception of the Coliseum.

It will still cost for-profit businesses and groups $1,000 to rent out the Decatur County Memorial Coliseum and Centennial Field for a four-hour period.

However, civic organizations wanting to use facilities for non-school-related purposes benefiting charity will now be able to rent the Coliseum for $300 and school lunchrooms for $200.

Religious groups would be able to rent the Coliseum for $500. Private groups wanting to rent facilities for non-charity purposes that still benefit children, such as dance recitals or sports competitions, could rent the Coliseum for $500 and school lunchrooms for $350.