As the deadline looms, students and families across Summer Creek High School cast their final votes for Teacher of the Year. Six teachers are in the running for the honor for the 2022-2023 school year.

The nominees are:

• Mrs. Teresa Aranda, a dance teacher and the director of the Starlettes
• Dr. Whitney Cosey, a chemistry teacher for dual credit, AP and advanced.
• Mr. Andrew McCorkle, a dual credit U.S. History and dual credit Humanities teacher.
• Mrs. Wrendy Oseguera, an AP Calculus, AP Statistics and advanced Pre-Calculus teacher.
• Mrs. LaShonda McGary, a teacher of both on-level and advanced Biology.
• Mrs. Cornelia Patterson, an advanced English I and II teacher.

Patterson says she tries to think of her own children when she teaches and, “how I would want for them to be treated by a teacher.” Patterson adds that because she has children of her own, “I can understand the children I teach.”

Patterson, Oseguera and Aranda agree that it was a surprise that they were nominated for teacher of the year.

Osegurea said that even though she’s been nominated for the last couple of years, “it’s never expected and always a surprise to see,” showing that no matter how many times you’ve been nominated, it is special every single time. 

Aranda says that “I do my job, and if people see it, then they see it. But if they don’t, then they don’t.”

Patterson also exclaims that she also was not looking to be nominated and that she was just “doing my life’s work.” 

Throughout all of the teachers is a theme that they really weren’t looking for a nomination and just were doing what they love: teaching. Clearly, when you have a passion it really shows to those around you.