2011
Teacher of the Year
Mrs Christy Pierce Bowen
Mrs. Christy Pierce Bowen is a 1982 graduate of Georgia College and State University in Milledgeville, GA. She began her teaching career in June of 1982 at Hardwick Youthful Offender Unit in Hardwick, GA, as a special education teacher for male youthful offenders and adult prisoners with disabilities. She served on the mental health team and helped to develop a life-skills curriculum to use with incarcerated adults with disabilities. While there, she also participated as a big sister in the Big Sister/Big Brother program. She earned a Masters of Education in 1985 at Georgia College and State University with her major in behavior disorders and learning disabilities.
In 1990, she began teaching emotional/behavioral disordered students at Chapel Junior High School in Fayetteville, NC. She returned to GA in 1992 and began teaching at Canby Lane Elementary School, DeKalb County Schools, as a special education teacher in a self-contained developmental learning class. Additionally, she was an active volunteer in Special Olympics serving as a gymnastics coach and chaperone.
In 2000, Mrs. Bowen and her husband moved to Villa Rica, GA. She began teaching at Central High School in August of 2000. Mrs. Bowen currently works as a special education teacher in a team collaborative setting for World Literature, US History, and Math I classes. She is the chairperson of the CHS Teacher's Flower Fund. She also volunteers as a Girl Scout leader. In her leisure time, she enjoys playing tennis, jogging, and reading.
Mrs. Bowen and her husband Ron have been married 16 years this November. They have a 13 year old daughter, Natalie, which attends Central Middle School and is in the 8th grade. Natalie participates as an oboist in the middle school band and beginning percussionist in the high school band, and enjoys playing tennis. Ron is employed at Railcar Management Incorporated in Atlanta, GA. He loves riding his Harley and playing tennis in his leisure time. Mrs. Bowen has two step children, Scott and Angie, 3 step grandchildren, and expecting two more step grandchildren. The Bowens are active members of Midway Macedonia Baptist Church in Villa Rica, GA.
2012
Teacher of the Year
Mr. Neil Ruby
Director of Bands, Central-Carroll High School
Neil Ruby is in his fourteenth year as the Director of Bands at Central - Carroll High School, in Carrollton, Georgia. Mr. Ruby received a B.M. Degree in Music Education from the University of West Georgia in Carrollton, Georgia, and a M.M. Degree in Music Education from the Vandercook College of Music in Chicago, Illinois. Mr. Ruby is serving his fourth term as the Georgia Music Educator’s Association District Seven Chairman and has served on the GMEA Music Selection Committee, Nominations Committee, Marching Band Committee, and as a Mentoring Teacher for the State of Georgia. Mr. Ruby is a GMEA-Certified Adjudicator for the Large Group Performance Evaluations. Mr. Ruby has received the National Band Association Certificate of Merit for Music Excellence. He is a former Teacher of the Year recipient in Carroll County and was chosen as STAR teacher of Central High School in 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, and 2010 and STAR Teacher for the Carroll County School System in 2004 and 2010. Mr. Ruby was also chosen as the 2007 Teacher of the Year by the Wal-Mart Foundation. He is an active member of numerous professional organizations including: Georgia Music Educator’s Association, Phi Beta Mu, National Band Association, Music Educator’s National Conference, Professional Association of Georgia Educator’s, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.