Union County Public Schools will name its 2017 Teacher of the Year Thursday in an annual event that has honored the top educators in the district for the past two decades .

Twenty-three years ago , the newly formed Union County Public Schools crowned its very first Teacher of the Year – Barbara Coleman , a third-grade teacher at Wingate Elementary

School . This is her story . Coleman still remembers the

Barbara Coleman , a curriculum specialist from Rock Rest Elementary was the first UCPS Teacher of the Year in 1994-1995 .

Coleman said she is proud of the time she spent at Fairview , especially the work she did with her teachers . She also continued to impact students . “ For young author ’ s day , for example , we had students pick their favorite book and illustrate it on a quilt square . I mailed them off to the authors and had them autograph them . We then made them into a large quilt . I think that quilt is still hanging in the library at Fairview .”

moment she heard her name called as the 1994-95 UCPS Teacher of the Year . “ I was stunned . I never expected to win . This was the first time for the district . This was a big deal . It was wonderful . It was an absolute honor . It was incredible .”

After 42 years in education , Coleman decided it was time to retire . As for advice to new teachers : “ Always have a hunger for knowledge . Never stop reading , never stop learning , never stop asking questions , and please realize you don ’ t know it all .”.

Coleman said in the past four decades there have been positive changes in education . She said technology has been a huge boon to education . “ When I started , it was an isolating experience to be in the classroom . You went in the classroom , you stayed there all day by yourself and there was no collaboration .”

Coleman said that is certainly not the case today . “ The beauty of where we are now is with social media , with Twitter and blogs , and publishers who are willing to put books online for free . You don ’ t have to leave your house to get professional growth . Think about all you could do with YouTube , with educational videos .

“ There is so much out there for the classroom teacher to grow and change , to collaborate with others internationally . That ’ s huge ! Now we ’ re reaching out across our walls , reaching out to others to see how they ’ re doing it . That ’ s the greatest thing that has happened for teachers . We ’ re going to be collaborative .”

As for advice to new teachers : “ Always have a hunger for knowledge . Never stop reading , never stop learning , never stop asking questions , and please realize you don ’ t know it all .”

During her 42-year career , Coleman has been a classroom teacher , an assistant principal , principal and a curriculum specialist . She was an assistant principal at Unionville Elementary in January 1997 and then became principal at Fairview Elementary School in July 1999 .

Getting the job as principal at Fairview meant Coleman ’ s career plans were right on track . It didn ’ t take long , however , for her to learn a valuable lesson that only time could teach .

“ I realized the teacher in me needed to be a teacher ,” she said . “ The administrative part of being a principal I could do , but it wasn ’ t my passion . I needed to know I was truly impacting children and teachers in a significant way . My heart is with kids who need help .”

Coleman , therefore , decided to leave Fairview Elementary and take on a new challenge in 2000 – a curriculum specialist at Wingate Elementary under the leadership of Kristy Thomas .

“ Once I did the principalship , I realized it wasn ’ t the job I wanted ,” Coleman said . “ As a curriculum specialist , I ’ m not far from the classroom . I ’ m sitting around the table with teachers . I ’ m still reading and learning about the craft of teaching and the best practices .”

When Thomas became the principal at Rock Rest Elementary in 2011 , she took Coleman with her . Coleman remained in that role until her retirement this year .

“ Barbara exemplifies what all educators should be ,” Thomas said . “ She kept learning , even to the last day , and always questioned what was the next best thing to help her students . She brought excellence to her work . There is nobody smarter than she . She has a ferocious curiosity to know more . She was always searching , reading and learning how to help kids . She never settled for kids failing . Kids were going to be successful under her watch and she was going to do the work to get them there . That ’ s what made her so special as a teacher .”

Coleman and her husband , Larry , both retired this year and have moved to Raleigh to be with their children and grandchildren . — This article was provided by the Union County Public Schools Communications Office .