THOMASVILLE — Thomas County School System officials proudly announce Melissa Artz, a dedicated seventh-grade math educator at Thomas County Middle School, as the District Teacher of the Year. With eight years of teaching experience at TCMS, Artz excels as a member of the T.O.P.S. (Teaching Outstanding Performers for Success) team, delivering excellence in math education.
Artz’s reaction to the announcement was one of pleasant surprise, underscoring her humility and dedication to her craft.
“When I found out that I was District Teacher of the Year, I was honored and humbled beyond belief,” Artz said. “I was speechless, and it honestly didn’t ‘sink in’ for several days! I feel that I have put in so much work over the past 15 years, and I am very grateful to be recognized for my efforts.”
As a teacher of a variety of students, Artz believes that every student can learn. She has taught students who were deaf or hard of hearing, students with learning disabilities, students who had intense behavior disorders, and a variety of other special needs including autism.
Artz said, “I believe that all students learn differently, and it is my job to find the one thing that will interest them and encourage them to learn something new every day. It is so important that we, as teachers, have a positive and encouraging role in the students’ lives and want to see them be successful — not just in school and academics, but also in life.”
Principal Clay Stanaland said that Artz is an outstanding math teacher and a wonderful role model for the students.
“She holds her students and herself to a high standard in the classroom,” Stanaland said. “Mrs. Artz has served as a leader in our math department and a leader among our faculty in helping with targeted support for small group instruction and struggling students. She is not only an outstanding teacher, but Mrs. Artz is also very personable, always with a ready smile each day for her students. You can tell when you are around Mrs. Artz or in her classroom that she loves teaching and loves her students.”
Artz creates a positive and supportive classroom culture by taking time to get to know each student in her classroom individually, understanding his or her unique learning styles, strengths and challenges.
“Recognizing that a one-size-fits-all approach does not effectively address the unique challenges each student faces, I emphasize flexibility and adaptability in my teaching methods,” Artz said. “Teaching in the middle school is a very challenging place to be, but I absolutely love it and have found my passion with building life-long relationships with students, parents, and being a part of our community. We have to remember that these are children, preteens, and teenagers that we work with every day, and we have to find some way to motivate and encourage them on a daily basis.”
When discussing her teaching style, Artz said that she constantly works to incorporate real-world scenarios into teaching math.
Artz said, “My aim is to make mathematical concepts tangible and relevant to students, ensuring that they see the direct correlation between what they are learning in the classroom and its application in everyday life.”
She elaborated on her teaching philosophy, stating, “When the students know that I care about them and I have high expectations for them, they want to meet those in both energy and in academics. I have learned over the years that children have a lot going on, all the time, and I have had to adjust my teaching strategies because there are many outside variables that play a role in so many parts of the students’ attitude and daily lives.”
Artz’s investment in education goes way beyond the classroom walls at TCMS. In addition to her role as an educator, Artz is a member of the children’s ministry team at Dawson Street Baptist Church where she has taught first grade Sunday school and has served as co-director, set designer, and STEM activity director for Vacation Bible School for the past three years. In addition to these roles at Dawson Street, she also plays the keyboard in the orchestra, is a member of the handbell choir, and adult choir.
Artz also teaches American Sign Language I and II at Thomas University and is a member of Valdosta State University’s Advisory Board for the Deaf Education and Interpreting Programs, reflecting her commitment to shaping the future of educational programs and ensuring that students “feel seen, heard, and valued.”
After Artz graduated from Valdosta State University with a Bachelor of Science in Special Education in 2009, and Masters in Special Education in 2010, she began teaching at Sumter County Schools where she taught reading, writing, and language for the deaf. In 2012, she moved to Thomasville and taught at Thomasville City Schools before moving to Thomas County Schools in 2016, teaching both science and math. She has completed her doctoral coursework from Northcentral University with only her dissertation remaining, as she believes in being a lifelong learner.
“My students always come back to me, and I am excited to see where they go after they leave my classroom,” Artz added. “Many have graduated and have families of their own now, but they will always be ‘my kids’ who I will always love and appreciate!”
The Teacher of the Year (TOTY) process began in February. School winners were judged on a written application and an interview before an impartial committee. Judges submitted independent ratings for each candidate, and the person with the highest overall average was named District Teacher of the Year.
Dr. Scott Sweeting, secondary curriculum director, who oversees the Teacher of the Year process, said, “We are so very fortunate to have such dedicated and innovative teachers in all of our schools. The interview panel had a very difficult job in selecting the 2024 — 2025 Teacher of the Year. We are delighted to have Melissa Artz represent Thomas County at the state level.”