Dutchtown High School teacher and assistant football coach Richard Postell has been selected to honorably hold the title Henry County Public School’s Teacher of the Year for 2023. After dedicating more than two decades to the field of education, this outstanding achievement speaks volumes to the efficacy of Postell’s methods. With a history of successful teaching in Numty’s Mil in Clayton County and Shiloh High in Gwinnett County, it is fit that Postell has made a lasting impact on Dutchtown High School through his matched ability to bring out the best in students both inside and outside of the classroom. His enthusiasm motivates his students to think critically, engage in conversations about their world, and gain real-world experiences.
Richard Postell Named Henry County Public Schools’ 2023 Teacher of the Year
Richard Postell, the Economics Teacher and Assistant Football Coach at Dutchtown High School, has been named Henry County Public Schools’ 2023 Teacher of the Year. This is a significant honor for Postell, who has been an educator for more than two decades. His hard work and dedication to his students have paid off, and we are thrilled to celebrate this momentous accomplishment.
Postell is a highly respected teacher in many Georgia counties, having taught in Fulton County, Riverdale High, Mundy’s Mill in Clayton County, and Shiloh High in Gwinnett County.
His students are the beneficiaries of his hard work and dedication, and we could not be more proud to have him as part of the Dutchtown High School community.
Richard Postel
Postell’s innovative approach to teaching encourages students to think critically and explore the world around them, all while providing real-world experiences. His ability to effectively teach and bring out the best in his students, both inside and outside the classroom, is unmatched.
In addition to teaching, Postell serves as a senior sponsor and assistant football coach and has earned the respect of all stakeholders. These qualities cemented Postell’s place amongst the 54 Teachers of the Year honored at Thursday’s ceremony. He was also a finalist for the system-wide award alongside Misty Givens, Tarita Reeves, Heather Pouliot, Rekita Thornhill, and Rhonda Lindsey.
Postell has now been chosen to represent the district in vying for the statewide Teacher of the Year award, which will be announced in November.
Henry County Schools 2023 Teacher of the Year Award Recipients
With great pride, we honor the outstanding educators of Henry County Schools for the 2023 Teacher of the Year Award. Tarita Reeves of Woodland Elementary, Heather Pouliot of Ola Elementary, Kimberlie Meadows of Austin Road Elementary, Tara Johnson of Bethlehem Elementary, Rebecca Majors of Cotton Indian Elementary, LaKeisha Bolling of Dutchtown Elementary, Stephanie Brown of East Lake Elementary, Miracle McCord of Fairview Elementary, Laura Forehand of Flippen Elementary, Kimberly Troutman of Hampton Elementary, Carey Tooke of Hickory Flat Elementary, and Sherry Hayes of Impact Academy have all been chosen for this distinguished honor.
It is with great admiration and respect that we salute the relentless commitment and exceptional work of our educators: Amina Williams from Luella Elementary, Latrinda Johnson from Mt. Carmel Elementary, Chelsea Floyd from New Hope Elementary, Tabatha Ridley from Oakland Elementary, Placida Means from Pate’s Creek Elementary, Courtney Vann Acosta from Pleasant Grove Elementary, Melanie Ward from Red Oak Elementary, Sarah Greene from Rock Spring Elementary, LaQuida Landry from Rocky Creek Elementary, Lescia Stroud from Smith-Barnes Elementary, Chabrinee Walker from Stockbridge Elementary, Ashley Whitsell from Timber Ridge Elementary, and Macretia Conley from Tussahaw Elementary.
Leslie Knight of Unity Grove Elementary, Shoanna Hines from Walnut Creek Elementary, and Dr. Deidra Lever-Shaw from Wesley Lakes Elementary are each celebrated for their remarkable contributions to the education sector. Their tireless efforts and dedication in shaping and fostering young minds have not gone unnoticed, marking them as true exemplars in their field.
Honoring Middle School Educators
A band of tremendously talented educators has emerged in middle school education, earning recognition and admiration for their extraordinary work. Misty Givens from Woodland Middle, Rekita Thornhill of Impact Academy, and Tameka Miles at Austin Road Middle are among them. The list doesn’t end there, though; it also includes Quanesha Robinson from Dutchtown Middle, Jashandra Figueroa at Eagle’s Landing Middle, and Cherri Patterson of EXCEL Academy. This impressive lineup includes Diamond Pierce from Hampton Middle, Abigail Engelbracht at Locust Grove Middle, and Phillip “Matt” Fountain of Luella Middle. Furthermore, LaShunda Sims from McDonough Middle, Melissa Bell at Ola Middle, Tanya Costa from Stockbridge Middle, and Kelli Elliott of Union Grove Middle have also marked their presence with their exceptional contributions to the educational arena.
Academic Excellence and Commitment Recognized
The twelve high achievers recognized for their academic excellence and commitment to their school are:
Richard Postell from Dutchtown High
Rhonda Lindsey from Impact Academy
George Johnson from the Academy for Advanced Studies
Tiffany Wheeler from Eagle’s Landing High
Bonita Bright from Hampton High
Gussie “Patrick” Harp from Locust Grove High
Karie Jarrett-Roberts from Luella High
Nichole Bennett from McDonough High
Laura Coons from Ola High
Errol Thame from Stockbridge High
Mary Jane Portwood from Union Grove High
Reginald Ross from Woodland High
These students have been honored with a special award ceremony for their hard work and accomplishments. The ceremony can be viewed on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpMX9h7ifaw.
Today, twelve individuals have been recognized for their academic excellence and commitment to their schools. Each of these high achievers is proudly graduating from some of the most prestigious high schools in the area: Richard Postell from Dutchtown High, Rhonda Lindsey from Impact Academy, George Johnson from Academy for Advanced Studies, Tiffany Wheeler from Eagle’s Landing High, Bonita Bright from Hampton High, Gussie “Patrick” Harp from Locust Grove High, Karie Jarrett-Roberts from Luella High, Nichole Bennett from McDonough High, Laura Coons from Ola High, Errol Thame from Stockbridge High, Mary Jane Portwood from Union Grove High, and Reginald Ross from Woodland High. A special award ceremony was held to celebrate this milestone and can be viewed on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpMX9h7ifaw.
Postell’s hard work and dedication to his students have resulted in success for himself and the students he mentors. His recognition of Teacher of the Year from Henry County Public Schools speaks volumes to Postell’s commitment to providing his students with meaningful learning experiences. Postell’s enthusiasm and excellence are contagious, and we are fortunate to have him as part of the Dutchtown High School family. His innovative classroom approach demonstrates a sincere commitment to guiding students to conclusions while exploring the world around them. Overall, Postell has and continues to prove the importance of knowledge and practice to today’s students with remarkable precision and wisdom.
