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Dyess and Roach named 'Teachers of the Year'
Dyess is the elementary honoree and Roach is the secondary. Their names will be placed next into the district competition and district winners go on to state elimination. Cynthia Dyess is employed at Chatom Elementary School where she has worked for 11 years. She previously taught three years in the Mobile County system. A native of Clarke County and alumnus of Clarke Academy, Dyess is a graduate of the University of South Alabama, and attended Judson College several years on a basketball scholarship. She received her masters in early childhood education from Spring Hill College. At Chatom Elementary, Dyess teaches nine classes of physical education for grades K-4. She "likes being with children." And she said, "My students make me what I am. I feel humble in being rewarded for something I enjoy. My principal is very supportive of the P.E. program." Dyess is aware of the common perception that since P.E. teachers don't have the paperwork that goes with other courses, they have an easier job. "If you follow the state course of study for P.E., you 'work,'" she emphasized. Dyess was complimentary of her fellow teachers and said Chatom Elementary is a great school and a wonderful place to work because of faculty cooperation. Richard Roach Richard Roach, the secondary Teacher of the Year, is employed at Millry High School where he teaches 8th and 9th grade grammar and literature and is the Spanish teacher for juniors and seniors. Roach has 17 years teaching experience with nine of them in Washington County at Millry. Roach says he "…loves learning and enjoys young people." His educational background shows a definite love of learning. He holds a bachelor's of science degree in history from the University of Alabama and a second from Alabama with an English major. He holds a master's in Divinity from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary; and a degree in Spanish from the University of Southern Mississippi. Roach first learned to speak "conversational Spanish" by visiting Mexico and living there for extended periods. He attended a language school in Guadalajara, and says there is a great deal of difference between learning Spanish from a textbook and conversing with the Mexican people. He has served on mission trips to Venezuela and Ecuador. But Richard Roach isn't through with his lifelong love of learning. He has learned that the University of Alabama at Huntsville offers a scholarship that sends American students abroad for two to four weeks. He plans to apply for that and his destination will be Madrid, Spain. Roach's philosophy of teaching is "…be firm, but touchable." He intersperses his lessons with stories of his travels and another subject dear to Washington County hearts, hunting. He said,"I like it when I see a child get a concept."
"Being a former Teacher of the Year for Washington County and District V, I truly believe that this is a very beneficial activity for one to experience," said Barbara Waite. "It not only has one think about his or her personal philosophy of teaching, but to be reflective on the "why" they became a teacher. Although a time-consuming task, I hope it is a portfolio that they will use many times in the future. It is an honor for our school district to be represented by such outstanding teachers; our students are benefiting greatly because they chose to enter the teaching profession."
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