DATE: Wednesday, November 12, 1997          TAG: 9711120506

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA 

SOURCE: BY JEFFREY S. HAMPTON, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: CURRITUCK                         LENGTH:   61 lines

CURRITUCK TEACHER OF YEAR ADVANCES TO DISTRICTS

After winning teacher of the year for Central Elementary School three times in the last six years, Terri G. Godfrey was named the best teacher in all of Currituck County for 1997.

She will represent the county in the district competition early next year.

Currituck chose Faye Freeman of Knott's Island Elementary School as principal of the year, an award she's won two of the last three years.

The teacher assistant award went to Diane Gilleland of Moyock Elementary School.

Before Godfrey started first grade, she wanted to be an auto mechanic like her father. But ``excellent educators'' in her first few years of school inspired her to be a teacher instead.

``I feel the greatest gift I can give the world is to inspire young people so they will develop a love of learning just as I have,'' Godfrey said in a biography she prepared for the northeastern district competition.

Godfrey, 45, teaches communications and science in the 6th grade. A teacher for 23 years, she won Central Elementary School's teacher of the year award in 1991, 1993 and 1997. She holds a master's degree in education from East Carolina University.

Despite her credentials, some say it will be tough to win the regional competition. As far as anyone can remember, Currituck has never had a regional teacher of the year.

``It is very competitive,'' said Currituck County Superintendent Ronnie Capps. He was on the regional committee a few years ago, and said that teachers are judged on a portfolio and interviews. But Godfrey, he said, ``can hold her own with anyone in the teaching profession.''

Freeman and Gilleland also will compete in the regional contest. Each of the county winners received a plaque, a pin and $250.

Freeman has been the principal of Knotts Island Elementary School for seven years. She attended school there as a child and has been a teacher or administrator for the school system since 1973.

Teachers of the year from individual schools include: Donna Corbo from Moyock Elementary School, Andrea Croom from Knapp Junior High School, Mary Lou Johnson from Knotts Island Elementary School, Mary Ackerman from Currituck County High School, and Christy Roberts from Griggs Elementary School.

Teacher assistants of the year include: Robin Peterson of Knotts Island Elementary School, Sandra Parker of Griggs Elementary School, Vickie Hampton of Knapp Junior High School and Janice Tiller of Central Elementary School.The winners were announced at the Currituck County School Board meeting Monday at Griggs Elementary School.

In other business:

The board approved architects to begin designing new elementary schools in Moyock and in Jarvisburg and an addition to Knotts Island Elementary School.

School Board Chairwoman Mary Ellen Maxwell announced the atrium at Griggs Elementary School will be named for longtime principal Fannie Newbern, who retires next month.

The board presented a rocking chair to outgoing superintendent Ronnie Capps. Capps' last day will be Nov. 21.

The board is hoping for more responses from parents on how to solve discipline problems on the Knotts Island ferry while students ride to the mainland and back on the 7 a.m and the 3:30 p.m. crossings. Currituck Schools staff sent letters to parents of 109 students asking for input by Nov. 21. KEYWORDS: TEACHER OF THE YEAR

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