The Coweta

County School System has done it again.

Officials learned

late lastweek that one its teachers, Lorraine Johnson, is a finalist for

the 2003 Georgia Teacher of the Year.

During the

last decades, Coweta County had two teachers win the award; Nancy Royal

in 1993 and Jamie Lipscomb in 1998.

Johnson is

one of five finalists chosen by the Department of Education. Johnson,

who teaches at Arnall Middle School, is the only middle school teacher

in the group.

The group was

selected from 146 entries.The finalists were selected after a panel conducted

a review process that included a submission of a video by each semifinalist

and a visit to their school.The other finalists include

·Rebecca

(Becci) Curry, St. Mary's Elementary School in Camden County.

· Rachel

"Charlie" Trippi of the Roan School in the Dalton City School

System.

·Margaret

Sims of Marietta High School.

·Janice

Lucille Hudson at Columbus High School.

The winner

will be announced at the April 26 Georgia TOTY banquet.

Johnson is

the 12th Coweta County teacher to be either a semi-finalist, finalist,

or winner of Georgia TOTY since 1986.

All Coweta

County schools have named their 2002 teachers of the year. The 2002 Coweta

County Teacher of the Year will be named at the May 13 TOTY ceremony,

held at 7 p.m. at the Newnan Presbyterian Church, and sponsored by the

Pilot Club and the Coweta County Board of Education.