Houston County inducts five educators into Teacher Hall of Fame

Five longtime educators were inducted into the Houston County Teacher Hall of Fame at a ceremony at the Houston County School District central office. The district honored Catherine Cooper, Jane Cooper, Barbara Gilmore, Wally Shaw and Kelly Voss; the program said the five inductees have devoted a combined 129 years to the Houston County School District.

The Hall of Fame ceremony, presented by the Board of Education and the district's community and school affairs office, featured biographical summaries read by Jennifer Jones, director of community and school affairs, remarks from each inductee and a testimonial from Tiffany Frank, a current teacher at Perry High School and a former student of several of the honorees. Dr. Elgin Mayfield, assistant superintendent for teaching and learning, performed the national anthem and led the pledge of allegiance.

'Catherine Cooper', who began teaching in 1987 and joined Houston County in 1992 as an interrelated resource teacher, told the audience she always aimed to make learning fun. '"I always try to make learning fun for my students," she said, describing hands-on science activities and noting the pride she felt when a former student posted the district's highest score on a fourth-grade science milestone.' Cooper taught at Bon Air Elementary, Bon Air Middle and Mount Arthur Elementary before retiring.

'Jane Cooper', who began at Perry Middle in 1993 and taught science and social studies, reflected on how family and community shaped her choice to teach and urged the audience to support children beyond their immediate families. '"I really wanted to be an astronaut," Jane Cooper said as she described finding her place instead in family and consumer sciences, and she challenged attendees to 'invest in a child that you are not related to.'

'Barbara Gilmore', who taught at Perry Middle for 25 years and retired in 2020, described her classroom as a family environment and emphasized the importance of education and listening to children. "Education is very, very important," Gilmore said, urging parents and community members to 'help our kids and listen to what they are saying.'

'Wally Shaw' served as Houston County High School band director from 1991 until his retirement in 2015. Program material and supporters' letters highlighted his role in growing the band program and earning state and national recognition. Shaw thanked administrators, colleagues and family and said he accepted the honor on behalf of the many teachers who work without fanfare. "Teaching isn't a job. It's a calling," he said.

'Kelly Voss', who began teaching in 1988 and most recently served at King's Chapel Elementary before retiring in 2020, described teaching as 'a calling' and thanked colleagues and former students for their partnership. "Teaching for me has never been just a job. It's a calling," Voss said.

Jennifer Jones read the biographies and called inductees forward to receive plaques. The program noted that each inductee's name will be engraved on a brick and added to the Hall of Fame walkway adjacent to the central office's flagpole, and a photograph of the honorees will hang on the Hall of Fame wall in the central office lobby.

The district also acknowledged event sponsors, including the Development Authority of Houston County, Emory Healthcare, Flint Energies and HEA Federal Credit Union, and invited attendees to thank them for financial and in-kind support of the ceremony.