Press Release

Angela Fenton of McClure Middle School Named District Teacher of the Year

The Cobb County School District is proud to announce the selection of Angela Fenton, seventh grade social studies teacher at McClure Middle School, as the 2008-2009 district Teacher of the Year. Superintendent Fred Sanderson surprised Ms. Fenton with the announcement today during a special assembly, with her family in attendance. She now represents Cobb in the statewide program, which will announce a winner in May 2009. Ms. Fenton is also the middle school level Teacher of the Year, which made her eligible for the district-wide merit.

As a child, Angela Fenton “re-taught” her school lessons to a classroom full of her dolls. Now, as a 13-year veteran teacher, she feels her childhood experience was part of her “destiny” to be an educator. Originally a marketing major, she instead chose to “be in the business of marketing a love for learning.” After earning her undergraduate degree in Middle Grades Education, Ms. Fenton served as a supply teacher at Floyd Middle School and as a substitute teacher at several schools throughout Cobb. Her freelance efforts led her to Smitha Middle School, where Ms. Fenton signed her first full-time teaching contract in 1995.

Ms. Fenton credits her colleagues at Smitha Middle for helping develop her teaching skills. “I truly believe that if I had not been placed at Smitha, I would not have been exposed to the quality in-depth staff development that is currently in practice in my classroom today,” said Ms. Fenton. During her tenure at Smitha Middle School, Ms. Fenton served in a variety of capacities, including teaching seventh grade social studies, working with the school’s Extended Enrichment Initiative program, participating in the school council and working as Instructional Lead Teacher.

With the opening of McClure Middle School in 2006, Ms. Fenton saw a unique opportunity to be part of a brand new school. She dubs her classroom ‘Planet Hollywood,’ where social studies become fascinating, hands-on explorations of the world. “As the red carpet rolls out in August, I nervously prepare to embrace the precious minds of students whom I truly believe will serve as our nation’s next president, senator or congresswoman, CEO of a Fortune 500 company, or future teacher,” said Ms. Fenton. Her unique classroom approach integrates the Georgia Performance Standards with interactive role-playing and references to art, culture and music. “Students should be presented with and explore learning through various forms of content, whether it be a web quest on apartheid, Mandela’s speech explaining his perspective, or Peter Gabriel’s song that details the plight of the notorious apartheid activist, Steven Biko,” said Ms. Fenton.

Ms. Fenton feels that her ability to impact her students at McClure comes from her love and understanding for their age group. “I absolutely love school and have an indescribable passion for learning, so much that I have never truly graduated middle school. I truly identify with, love, and appreciate the middle school child, and I feel that it is this quality that makes me a successful middle school teacher. I understand the middle school student because I am one of them,” said Ms. Fenton.

Ms. Fenton earned both her Master’s degree in Educational Leadership and her undergraduate degree in Middle Grades Education from Kennesaw State University. She is active in extra-curricular programs at McClure, including the Junior Beta Club and student council.

The Cobb County School District began recognizing Teachers of the Year for all three levels in 2004, providing an opportunity to recognize more than one outstanding educator and allowing the honorees to showcase the unique talents and skills needed at each academic level. Each school chooses its own Teacher of the Year who is, in turn, nominated for the district-wide honor. Each application is read and rated independently by a committee of administrators. The highest-rated applicants from elementary, middle, and high schools become the Teachers of the Year. The District Teacher of the Year is chosen from these three honorees. A committee selects the overall winner based on written applications and interviews with the candidates.

Ms. Fenton will have her Teacher of the Year handprint unveiled by the Cobb Chamber of Commerce during the 20th annual ‘Give Our Schools a Hand’ ceremony Oct. 1 at Glover Park on Marietta Square.

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