Teacher of the Year Program

Subjects: Early Childhood Education and Teaching as a Profession Pathway

Cassandra Rodriguez attended college for Organizational Communications at the University of West Florida (UWF). After graduation, she pursued a career as a student affairs professional, and while serving as a graduate assistant in Student Activities she realized that working with students was a deep passion that she wanted to pursue. Mrs. Rodriguez began her experience with collegiate students at Florida Southern College (FSC) as the Student Involvement Coordinator. This position gave her the freedom to explore her ability to teach young adults leadership skills, organization, and enrichment. She did this through community outreach, campus events, and improving the school culture and climate. Transitioning to the other side of the college experience, she became the Academic Advisor for the College of Education at the University of South Florida. While working with incoming freshmen, she learned that many graduating seniors did not have the knowledge or foundation to have a successful experience in college and wanted to help bridge the gap. Mrs. Rodriguez then became the Early Childhood Education teacher and Director of the mommy’s day out program at Tenoroc High School. This paved the way for her to step into her current position at Evans High teaching Early Childhood Education and Teaching as a Profession. Recently, Mrs. Rodriguez collaborated with her peers to start “Knights Unite,” based on the Georgia Positive Behavior Interventions and Support (PBIS) program. Every day Mrs. Rodriguez continues to find new ways to engage her students and pushes them to reach their personal and professional goals.

“Show up for all of your students! The blessing of teaching and working in education is that there is always a student that needs you. Any student in any school and county across the nation on any developmental level, needs connection. They need consistency, positive energy, and quality experiences in their lives daily. In education, we get to do that and the impact is amazing.”

Subjects: 6th grade Earth Science and 8th grade Georgia History

Brook Andrews has been an educator for 21 years. She has a Bachelor of Science degree in Middle Grades Education from the University of Georgia, and started her career in Gwinnett County where she taught sixth grade social studies at Lanier Middle School.  Mrs. Andrews soon moved home to Augusta, and spent three years teaching science and math at St. Mary on the Hill Catholic School. After she earned a Master of Education from Augusta State University, Mrs. Andrews returned to public education at Riverside Middle School in Columbia County where she taught eighth grade science.  When Stallings Island Middle School opened, Mrs. Andrews was hired to teach sixth grade earth science. Mrs. Andrews returned to Augusta State University and earned an Education Specialist degree in Curriculum and Instruction.  Mrs. Andrews sponsors several after school clubs at Stallings Island, including running club which is a favorite among sixth graders who need to burn off extra energy after school.  Her academic clubs prepare students for competitions like the International Academic Competitions, the CSRA Eco Meet, and the Georgia Envirothon.  Mrs. Andrews serves on the Stallings Island Middle School leadership team and has served on numerous Columbia County School District curriculum committees.  She was voted Teacher of the Year for the 2012-2013 school year at Stallings Island Middle and also won the Smart/Maher VFW National Citizenship Education Teacher Award in 2019.  Mrs. Andrews has four sons who attend Columbia County Schools, and she works to maintain a close connection to the families in each school community she is a part of. 

“As educators, we have a responsibility to connect with our young people. We have to work together to ensure that our students' sense of community isn’t being replaced by technology.  Each student deserves to feel seen and valued in their school community.” 

Subjects: English Language Arts and Social Studies

Ms. Allison Dixon is a passionate educator who has spent half of her life and the entirety of her career teaching children in Columbia County schools. Ms. Dixon earned her Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education in 2001 from Augusta University and her Master of Education in Foundations of Education from Troy State University in 2004. In 2006, she earned her Education Specialist in Early Childhood Education from Augusta University. She also has reading and gifted endorsements. For the first 17 years of her career, Ms. Dixon taught second grade at Grovetown Elementary. Then she transferred to Greenbrier Elementary to teach third grade English Language Arts and Social Studies. Always looking for ways to improve her craft, Ms. Dixon visited primary schools in New Zealand and Australia as a part of a study abroad. Throughout her career, she has served in many capacities including grade chair, yearbook coordinator, PTO Vice President, co-chair of the Father-Daughter Dance, coordinator of the Kids Heart Challenge, and chair of a school fundraiser. She has taken on leadership roles including serving as a Building Coordinator for Augusta University for over a decade. Currently, she is serving on her school leadership team and she is a part of the Columbia County School District’s NexGen Cyber Curriculum Development Committee. When not in the classroom, Ms. Dixon can be found serving in the children’s ministry at her church on Sunday mornings where she has faithfully served since high school. Additionally, she has served as head coach of a youth summer swim team since 2001.

“I believe that your personal happiness and satisfaction at school are tied to your Goals, Relationships, Enthusiasm, Attitude, and Teamwork. Focus on these things and you are sure to have a G.R.E.A.T. year!”

Subject: Social Studies

Jennifer Roper was born and raised in Augusta, and is a graduate of Lakeside High School and Georgia Southern University. She was honored with the Sallie Mae Award for exhibiting outstanding teaching during her first year on the job, and Mrs. Roper was also awarded Teacher of the Year at Goshen Elementary in 2000. She went on to become a finalist for Richmond County Teacher of the Year, and she is a former member of the Junior League of Augusta, where she was co-chair for the first annual golf tournament. Mrs. Roper is a member of the Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE), and she has served on numerous committees including the Leadership team, Hospitality Committee, PBIS team, and she has mentored a host of apprentice teachers throughout her long teaching career.  Mrs. Roper has 27 years of experience in fourth and fifth-grade classrooms between Richmond and Columbia County schools. She recently earned her Gifted Endorsement and currently teaches fifth grade Social Studies at River Ridge Elementary.  This year she was chosen to represent Columbia County as a liaison for the Columbia County Cheerleaders and Champions program. At her school she has collaborated with district efforts to connect teachers with the most up to date resources provided by the Georgia Department of Education.

Mrs. Roper and her husband, Hank, have two teenage boys, Jack and Grady, and a beloved 10-year- old black lab, Stewie. Mrs. Roper loves being an active team mom for her sons’ football and lacrosse teams and is also a breast cancer survivor.

“I believe that learning should be fun, and the most rewarding thing for me to see is when my students are so immersed in these activities and they have suddenly forgotten they are ‘learning’ and instead are fully engaged in lessons that will leave a lasting impression.”