CORDELE — J.S. Pate Elementary School has announced its choice for Teacher of the Year as Mrs. Stephanie Payne.

Payne graduated from high school with honors in 1994, before attending Darton College for two years and receiving her associate’s degree. She then went on to graduate magna cum laude from Georgia Southwestern State University (GSW), where she received her bachelor of science degree in early childhood education.

Payne has also begun to work on her master’s degree and is currently taking classes for a gifted endorsement on her certificate.

Payne was a member of the Student Georgia Association of Educators (SGAE) at GSW where she held the office of historian. She is also a current member of the Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE). She serves on the reading committee for kindergarten and has also served as grade level chairman, both in first grade and kindergarten. Payne has recently been recognized in “Who’s Who Among Teachers.”

Payne is a member of Warwick United Methodist Church, where she began attending as a pre-teen and eventually met her husband. She is also now the mother of healthy twins.

As a childhood cancer survivor, she says she is proud to be a supporter of Relay for Life, and also supports Habitat for Humanity.

For the last three years she was selected to represent her school, as well as her community at the Title One Distinguished Schools Banquet in Atlanta, Georgia.

Payne has taught Pre-K at O’Neal Elementary School from 1998-2001, First Grade at J.S. Pate Elementary from 2001-2003, and now currently Kindergarten, and still with J.S. Pate Elementary.

“Teaching and working with children has been a part of me for as long as I can remember,” explains Payne. “Even as a child I wanted to teach. I had my own chalkboard and I would make up various ‘activities’ for my students, who were either imaginary or my dolls.”

Another influence in her life that led to her decision to become a teacher was her grandmother.

“Mema, as I call her, was a teacher and actually taught one of my favorite teachers in the fourth grade. I have Mema’s teaching certificate from 1938 framed at my home. She shared many stories with me about her teaching days and she always listened intently as I told her stories as well. Unfortunately, she passed away during my first year of teaching, but I know she is watching over me now and is proud of my accomplishments as a teacher.”

Payne began her teaching career at O’Neal Pre-K and enjoys working with young students and loved her three years there. She then moved on to J.S. Pate where she taught first grade for two years. As a result of this move, she actually taught two of her former Pre-K students again in the first grade.

“It was a neat experience observing their growth,” said Payne. “Once again I moved, this time to kindergarten, which is where I am today. Although I did not know it at the time, my last move proved to be a blessing in disguise. I have found my niche and my home in kindergarten.”

Payne believes that her greatest accomplishment would be helping children actually become readers.

“It is quite a feeling to know you are responsible for a child’s literacy,” Payne said. She firmly believes that becoming a good reader is the most important part of a child’s early education, and the foundation for all later learning. “It is amazing to watch all the pieces fall into place for a student and see them begin to read.”

As for her greatest contribution, she said it would have to be working with another teacher to compile their reading programs into one consistent, comprehensive reading curriculum with everything placed together in a single notebook that every kindergarten teacher at their school uses every day.

“This comprehensive curriculum has helped to improve our literacy scores and I am very proud to have had a part in this.”

Gail K. Nesbitt, principal at J.S. Pate Elementary School and colleague of Mrs. Payne, has worked with her for three years.

Nesbitt commented on her associate with, “Her interest for increasing her knowledge is matched with a genuine love and concern for the students she teaches...she is a master teacher and willingly shares her expertise with others...Stephanie (Payne) is a pace setter for excellence in teaching and deserves the title ‘Teacher of the Year.’”