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Schools

Cobb's Top Teacher Named

Kennesaw Mountain's theater teacher takes the 2011-12 district Teacher of the Year honors.

A pep rally was held Tuesday morning at to announce the selection of theater teacher Coy Dunn as the Cobb County School District's 2011-2012 Teacher of the Year. Acworth Intermediate School teacher Rick McKee, who was among the competitors for the overall Teacher of the Year award.

At the pep rally, the band played, the cheerleaders cheered, and the student body was exceptionally loud in showing their school spirit. Cobb Schools Superintendent Dr. Michael Hinojosa named Dunn as balloons fell from the ceiling and the gym erupted in applause.

"I'm honored and humbled to be both the Kennesaw Mountain Teacher of the Year and now the Cobb County Teacher of the Year," said Dunn, who hugged many of his theatre students. "This is a great school with a great staff and great students. You don't do this alone."

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Dunn's Teacher of the Year handprint will be unveiled Oct. 5 during the annual Cobb Chamber of Commerce "Give Our Schools a Hand" ceremony at Glover Park on the Marietta Square. Dunn now represents Cobb in the statewide program, which will anounce a winner later in this school year.

Since 2004, Dunn has developed the KMHS drama program into a model for success. Students have earned five team state titles for one-act play and literary events, 13 region titles and many individual state titles in speaking and acting events.

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Dunn said his students come together as an ensemble to work on projects ranging from programs to costumes and sets. "I do not allow other adults to assist," said Dunn. "Our students do it all."

The school's drama club students also give back to the community by participating in campus cleanup and community volunteer projects. They also perform a show each spring for elementary students at nearby schools.

"Mr. Dunn is an exceptional classroom teacher and director," said Kevin Daniel, principal of KMHS. "He is a role model for staff and students, and is a real student advocate."

In addition to Supt. Hinojosa and principal Daniel, the pep rally was also attended by and several members of the city council. Coy Dunn's family was also on hand to share in his honor and excitement.

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