Fayette

County High School teacher Linda Brem was caught off

guard Wednesday morning when a contingent of school

officials and board members entered her classroom with

flowers, balloons and the news that she was selected as

one of the top three teachers of the year in the Fayette

County School District.

Brem was

instructing her 11th grade advanced placement English

class at the time, and was genuinely surprised by the

unexpected visit. Colleagues Cathy Nix, language arts

teacher at Rising Starr Middle School, and Jill Kirkland,

a science teacher at Whitewater Middle School, also were

caught off guard when their respective principals and

boss, Dr. John DeCotis, congratulated them on being

recognized as the top three teachers of the year.

One of the

three will be selected as Fayette County's candidate for

the state teacher of the year, with the announcement

scheduled for April 13 during a celebration at Sams

Auditorium.

"It's

time to celebrate the teachers in the system," Terri

Gaspierak, staff development coordinator for the school

system, told the board Monday night. Fayette County has

not participated in teacher of the year competitions on a

state or national level on a regular basis in the past,

and Gaspierak is determined to change that. This year's

top choice will be competing in next year's state level

competition.

Each school

in the county named a top teacher. Recognized for their

dedication and creativity in the art of teaching were

Lori Boggs, Braelinn Elementary; Patt Williams, Brooks

Elementary; Tina Patrick, Burch Elementary; Joyce

Simpson, East Fayette Elementary; Lin Zacherl, Fayette

Intermediate; Ashli Wade, Fayetteville Primary; Barbara

Howell, Fayette Middle; Brenda Cannington, Flat Rock

Middle; Carol Long, Huddleston Elementary; Nancy Shepack,

J.C. Booth Middle; Carol Hancock, Kedron Elementary;

Rhoda Rush, McIntosh High; Mary Ann White, North Fayette

Elementary; Lynn Shirley, Oak Grove Elementary; Alice

Elfer, Peachtree Elementary; Lisa Coley, Peeples

Elementary; Anthony Pattiz, Sandy Creek High School; Pam

Foster, Spring Hill Elementary, and Margaret Garrett,

Tyrone Elementary.