On Tuesday, September 19, 2023, District Administrators and Board of Education Representatives gathered at The STEM Academy at Bartlett to raise the Flag of Learning and Liberty. The ceremony was held in honor of Raegan Dillon, the district's 2023-24 Teacher of the Year. As a representative of the many dedicated teachers across the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System, the district's Teacher of the Year is honored with the distinction of having the Flag of Learning and Liberty proudly displayed at his or her school for the year. The ceremony symbolizes the importance of quality education and represents teachers who contribute to the betterment of our community through stellar teaching practices. The Flag's design incorporates the red, white, and blue of the “Stars and Stripes", symbolizing America's historical belief in and reliance upon education.
Mrs. Dillon graduated from Berry College with a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education. Following that, she received her Master of Education degree from Georgia Southern University, and finally her Specialist degree in Instructional Technology from the University of West Georgia. Mrs. Dillon spent many years teaching reading, writing, science, gifted enrichment, and STEM in grades kindergarten through fifth, before moving to middle school. She is an engineering and technology teacher in the Career Technical and Agricultural Education (CTAE) classroom. Her courses include underwater robotics, LEGO robotics, and engineering.
Principal Lydia Taylor spoke of her Mrs. Dillon's passion for teaching and her deep love for her students. She told how Mrs. Dillon was the “first teacher back in the school after the pandemic" and how she contacted all her students by phone, created instructional bags for her classes and drove those bags to the students who couldn't get to the school to pick them up! Former STEM principal Dr. Jimmie Cave also delivered accolades to Mrs. Dillon, calling her the kind of teacher every principal wants. He also reminded her that on the day of the banquet where she was named District Teacher of the Year, he asked her if she was ready to win…and win, she did!
Board Member Denise Grabowski, representing the First District (of which Bartlett is a part), spoke of her personal experience as a parent of children who had Mrs. Dillon in class. “She's chill," said Mrs. Grabowski of the teacher of the year, “but also enthusiastic!"
Finally, Superintendent Dr. Watts congratulated Mrs. Dillon, praising her innovation and creativity, as well as her commitment to lifelong learning.
The Flag of Learning and Liberty will fly over The STEM Academy at Bartlett for the 2023-2024 school year. To view more pictures from the flag raising ceremony, click here.
