Last week, administrators in the Troup County School System got to surprise its teacher of the year finalists. Interim Superintendent Roy Nichols brought flowers into each classroom, interrupting class to let students and teacher know about the honor.

The finalists are Jessica Mobley, Traviera Sewell and Jessica Bowden. In honor of the three finalists, we asked the Troup County School System for background information on each.

Mobley is a fourth grade English Language Arts/writing teacher at Ethel Kight Elementary School.

She’s been teaching for 11 years and earned a Early Childhood Education degree from Columbus State University and a master’s degree from LaGrange College. Best of all, Mobley is a 2003 Troup County High School graduate. Her brother and husband are also educators in the Troup County School System.

Sewell is a sixth-grade social studies teacher at Long Cane Middle School. She also teaches Read180 and aerobics at Long Cane. Sewell earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia and a master’s degree from Columbus State University. She earned her specialist degree from Liberty University. Like Mobley, Sewell is a local graduate. She graduated from LaGrange High School in 2010 and has been a teacher for three years.

Bowden is an agriculture education teacher at LaGrange High School. She earned her undergraduate degree from Mississippi State University and her master’s degree from Iowa State University.

There’s a lot of discussion about our school system and how to ensure our students are learning material and being properly set up for a successful life. Sometimes, in the midst of all that discussion, we lose focus on the men and women who really make a difference in our children’s lives.

Although textbooks, testing materials and supplies mean a lot, there’s nothing that can compare to a great teacher, and there are plenty of them in the Troup County School System. This year, Mobley, Sewell and Bowden were honored as the three best. One of them will end up being named Troup County School System’s teacher of the year and will be in the running for the state honor next year.

Congratulations to all three, and thank you for the work you’re doing for our students.