Gwinnett Teacher Of The Year Finalists Named For 2020-2021

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA — Six Gwinnett County Public Schools teachers were announced Tuesday as finalists for this school year’s Teacher of the Year.

They are:

Lena Alonso, fifth grade special-education teacher at Lilburn Elementary School. A teacher since 2014, Alonso began her Gwinnett career in 2018 as a fourth and fifth grade special-education teacher at Lilburn Elementary.

Katie Blum, second grade teacher at Sugar Hill Elementary School. Blum earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology and elementary education, as well as her master’s degree in teacher education, from the University of Tennessee. She holds a specialist’s degree in teacher leadership from Georgia College and State University. Blum has also taught at Riverside Elementary School in Suwanee.

Kelley Donovan, sixth grade humanities teacher at Coleman Middle School in Duluth. Donovan joined Gwinnett County Public Schools in 2012 as a language arts and social social studies teacher at Duluth Middle School. She transferred to Coleman in 2016. Donovan has a bachelor’s degree in child and family development from the University of Georgia and a master’s degree in language arts and social studies from Georgia State University.

Julianne Purnell, sixth and eighth grade teacher at Five Forks Middle School in Lawrenceville. Purnell began her Gwinnett teaching career at Stripling Elementary School in Norcross in 2013, where she taught physical education. She transferred to Five Forks Middle in 2018. She holds two degrees from North Georgia College and State University — a bachelor’s degree in health and physical education with a teacher certification, and a master’s degree in health and physical education. Purnell also earned a specialist’s degree in health and physical education at Jacksonville State University.

Philip Peavy, cybersecurity and game-design teacher at Paul Duke STEM High School in Norcross. Peavy began his Gwinnett career in 2018 teaching digital technology and computer science at Paul Duke STEM High School. He earned his bachelor’s degree in middle grades education from the University of Georgia. Peavy completed his master’s degree in educational technology from Boise State University.

Danielle Swaby, work-based learning teacher at South Gwinnett High School in Snellville. Swaby began her Gwinnett teaching career in 2015 at South Gwinnett High. She earned her bachelor’s degree in computer information from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, a master’s degree in business administration from Emory University, and is working on a specialist’s degree in education leadership from Georgia State University.

More information on each teacher is on the Gwinnett County Public Schools website.

The top teacher will be named on Dec. 10 when the Gwinnett County Public Schools holds a virtual celebration honoring the winners.

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