McCrary honored for inspiring first grade minds

First grade teacher Morgan McCrary has been named the Lumpkin County School System Teacher of the Year for 2024.
At a recent school board meeting, Principal Stacie Gerrells praised McCrary’s devotion to her young students.
“Ms. Morgan comes in once a month dressed up for whatever unit they are studying in her classroom, and she transforms her whole room to match the things they are studying,” she said. “She is not afraid to step out of her comfort zone, and she is a cheerleader for her team even when it is challenging. We really appreciate her positive attitude.”
The reason the honor is post-dated, according to Lumpkin County Schools Associate Superintendent Sharon Head, is because McCrary “will now go into the running for the state Teacher of the Year” and the winner of that competition “serves as the Teacher of the Year for the state during FY2024.”
At the meeting, Gerrells also relayed quotes from students, colleagues, and parents alike praising McCrary.
 “I had a former parent say ‘Ms. McCrary is an amazing teacher and has a true calling in her life,’” said Gerrells. “The way she loves her students leaves parents at peace, knowing she will do whatever she can to ensure they have a good day. We love her, and could not have asked for a better first grade teacher.”
McCrary, a 2013 graduate of the Lumpkin County School System, earned a golf scholarship at Brenau University, where she majored in early childhood education. She obtained her Master’s Degree from Valdosta State University in 2020. Currently, McCrary teaches at Lumpkin County Elementary School and is also the girls golf coach at Lumpkin County Middle School.
Athletics has always played a pivotal role in McCrary’s evolution as a teacher.
“I played four years at Brenau, and then I coached basketball here for a year. And then they started the golf program again for middle school, so I was able to give back to a sport that gave so much to me. So now I’ve coached middle school girls golf since my second year teaching… five years now. My husband is a middle school teacher as well, and he coaches middle school basketball and high school baseball.”
It’s not all classroom all the time for McCrary though.
“I have a one-and-a-half year old son, and he keeps me busy most of the time,” she said. “… I love being outside. I love watching the Georgia Bulldogs. I love being with my family, and going to church.”
McCrary said her favorite part of being a teacher is witnessing the proverbial light bulb come on for her students.
“In first grade, we really set the foundation for reading,” she said. “My favorite thing is to see them grow so much in first grade, and just giving them that passion for reading. Because reading can break a lot of chains for people… I get to have a lasting impact that [my students] take with them for the rest of their lives.”

The Nugget’s School Spotlight is a reoccurring feature that puts the focus on a well-deserving Lumpkin County teacher. The next series of Spotlights will shine on the recently named Teachers of the Year.
We would like to thank Morgan McCrary for everything she has done for Lumpkin County’s students. We wish her the best of luck at the upcoming state-wide competition for Teacher of the Year.