Henry Daily Herald

Photo by Johnny Jackson Barbara Rosolino meets her mother Gloria Moss on stage upon learning she was named Henry County Schools Teacher of the Year.

McDONOUGH — Barbara Rosolino will represent Henry County Schools as she competes for the state’s Teacher of the Year title.

Rosolino teaches Honors English and advanced placement literature and composition at Eagle’s Landing High School. She was named the school district’s Teacher of the Year during its A Harvest of Heroes celebrations Thursday.

“I’m grateful and thrilled,” said Rosolino. “I’m so lucky to have my friends here. I’m honored and so excited.”

Tears welled up in her eyes as she received hugs and congratulations from family and friends.

She was joined by her husband, Jeff Rosolino, and her parents, Mike and Gloria Moss.

“We’re so proud of her,” said Gloria Moss.

Rosolino was among three finalists vying for the district title. District runners-up were Tina McPherson of Stockbridge Elementary and Sheila Thomas-Johnson of Henry County Middle.

McPherson teaches kindergarten. She has 21 years experience as an elementary school teacher and has spent her entire career in the district. She is from Montgomery, Ala., and moved to Henry County in 1987. She graduated from Georgia State University with a bachelor’s degree.

Thomas-Johnson is National Board Certified and teaches Georgia history and gifted classes at Henry County Middle. She has taught at the elementary, middle and high school levels throughout her 19-year career. The Mississippi-born educator earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Mississippi in Oxford and a graduate degree from Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa.

Rosolino, who is also National Board Certified, has been teaching for 34 years.

She said her career began when she was a 20-year old college student in New York studying English, history and French. That is when she fell in love with literature, books and film. She recalled seeing King Lear performed in Central Park by legendary actor James Earl Jones.

“It was free,” she said. “That’s when I fell in love with this.”

Rosolino was credited Thursday night for her passion for teaching English and literature to students at Eagle’s Landing High for the past 11 years.

She led the school’s mock trial team to state competition three times in six years and achieved an 80 percent pass rate among her students on the advanced placement tests.

“My goal for AP this year is to exceed the 80 percent pass rate,” said Rosolino.

Also recognized at the ceremony were the Hero Award winners and Media Specialist of the Year.

Elizabeth Webster, a custodian at Hickory Flat Elementary, was recognized with the Service Employee Hero Award. Susan Whitehorn of Ola High earned the School Nutrition Employee Hero Award. Eagle’s Landing Middle bus driver Lisa Cox won the Transportation Employee Hero Award. Tiffany Price, a paraprofesional at Woodland High, received the Support Personnel Hero Award. Cotton Indian Elementary’s Jennifer McCrary won the Media Specialist of the Year Award.

All 51 school-level Teachers of the Year were recognized Thursday with plaques and flowers. Sons Honda presented $1,000 to Rosolino and $375 to McPherson and Thomas-Johnson. Kroger provided $500 and a gift basket to Rosolino, while the two runners-up received gift baskets and $250 each.

School officials said the district will also give Rosolino the opportunity to attend the educational conference of her choice with financial assistance.

Thursday’s ceremony included remarks by the Superintendent Dr. Ethan Hildreth and several other school leaders as well as music by the Dutchtown High School Select Women’s Chorus.