Mrs. Summer Bowen, a prekindergarten teacher at Savannah Christian Preparatory School in Chatham County, is the 2018 Teacher of the Year for the Georgia Independent School Association. The announcement occurred this morning at their annual conference in Atlanta. SCPS now employs the GISA Teacher of the Year for 2017 and 2018.

“Mrs. Bowen is an exceptional teacher, and it is evident from the interactions she has with her students, parents, and peers that she represents the true essence of what it means to be a teacher,” said SCPS headmaster Dr. Chris Harmon. He added, “While she is an outstanding teacher who wants her students to remember what they learned, her chief desire is that her students feel loved, inspired, and capable of accomplishing anything they try.”

Mrs. Bowen graduated from Georgia Southern University in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education and continued her education at Georgia Southern University, obtaining a master’s degree in teaching and learning in 2009. Before attending Georgia Southern University, she was a student at SCPS for thirteen years. Dr. Harmon states, “Mrs. Bowen not only represents the best of the best in teaching, but she is also a fantastic representation of our SCPS Alumni.”

Mrs. Bowen strives to meet the individual needs of each student and describes teaching as “a work of the heart.” She believes teaching is more than a sit and listen activity. In her view, “Education is making a positive difference in a child’s life whether that is academically, spiritually, intellectually, or hopefully, all of the above.” To Mrs. Bowen, education is more than a job – it is a calling.

The lower school principal at SCPS, Miss Becky Knight, nominated Mrs. Bowen for the award. In her nomination, Miss Knight describes Mrs. Bowen as “a student-centered teacher who develops inspiring relationships with her students and families while implementing engaging lessons in the classroom.” Miss Knight believes that Mrs. Bowen is “passionate about teaching and knows the impact she has on a young learner.” One of her teammates, Ms. Jill Elton, adds that Mrs. Bowen “strives to create the best learning environment that she can and is a great role model, leader, and team player.”