Christine Geske-Stewart, a teacher at the Jones County High School, recently won the Sylvia W. McGee Excellence in Education Award, where she was recognized for her innovative teaching.
Geske-Stewart said she’s lived in Macon for 7 years now but enjoys teaching in Jones County. She said she came from North Carolina, where she learned how to teach.
“I love the friends I have made in Jones County. I can ask any of the other teachers for help, and they will help,” she said. “We know if kids don’t succeed in one class, they won’t succeed in mine. It’s just that kind of community.”
The teacher said she couldn’t believe she had won the award but was extremely honored to receive such prestigious recognition.
“I had only heard of Golden Eagle for students. It’s basically the top award for students in each category for high school in middle Georgia. There are eligibility requirements, and students have to interview and perform. I never knew there was a teacher one,” Geske-Stewart said.
The award was based on what she did in the classroom, the relationships she’s formed with students and making her students feel respected and comfortable.
She said she had no idea about the Golden Eagle Teacher Award until she received an email. She still has no idea who nominated her.
“I like to fly below the radar. When I got the email, I let it sit for a while. I don’t think I even told my husband until the week of the ceremony,” Geske-Stewart, said. “We got all dressed up and went anyway. The first award they announced was the Sylvia W. McGee Excellence in Education Award. They announced my name, and I was so shocked.”
She said the reason she was so shocked to win the award was because she felt other teachers worked so hard and did so many amazing things. She said she wished she could do what they do. She said she’s just doing her job, and it felt odd to be recognized for something she’s already expected to do.
The teacher said she teaches social studies classes at Jones County High School, and she’s been teaching for 20 years. She’s only taught in Jones County for two years. She said before teaching she wanted to be an environmentalist and went to college on a soccer scholarship.
“I took an environmental class, but science was not my strong point. I went into sociology and did a track in criminal justice and juvenile delinquency. After college I got a job working in juvenile restitution. I wound up becoming an administrative assistant for a soccer club, and I wanted to coach soccer. I took a leap and took a job at a high school for soccer, where they taught me what to do in a classroom to become a teacher. I taught while I got my license,” she said.
Geske-Stewart, said her favorite thing about teaching is teaching social studies since it’s what she loves. She also loves sharing different topics with her students. She said acknowledgement with the award showed she is making a difference at the Jones County High School.
“Teaching is important, because everyone has to go to school at some point in their lives. We open the door for kids to find other professions,” the teacher said. “We want to create lifelong learners. It doesn’t matter what a kid wants to become as long as they enjoy learning.”
