No need for grades when Beach High library media specialist helps students, teachers

This is one of a series of articles on each of the five finalists for Savannah-Chatham County Public School System 2022-23 school year Teacher of the Year.

Helping students and teachers is what Lauren Fuquea enjoys most while working as library media specialist at Beach High School, allowing her to have an impact beyond the classroom.

"I just wanted to be a support for teachers and for students," she said. "I see teachers often and their workload is immense. They have a lot of challenges that they face. So being in the media center, I can support them, as well as working with the students. I get to work with the entire student population and not just the kids who are in my class."

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Fuquea was named as one of five finalists for the title of the 2022-23 Teacher of the Year for the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System (SCCPSS). She will compete in a process that will involve classroom observations and panel interviews. A winner will be announced at the annual gala on Feb. 11 at the Marriott Savannah Riverfront.

Cherie Dennis, a teacher of English speakers of other languages (ESOL) at Hesse K-8 School, was named as Teacher of the Year for 2020-21. Dennis held on to her title for 2021-22 because of the pandemic. She is also the Georgia State Teacher of the Year.

The current 2021-22 district Teacher of the Year is Cheri Dennis, who teaches English speakers of other languages (ESOL) at Hesse K-8 School. She is also the Georgia State Teacher of the Year.

More: Savannah-Chatham County educator named Georgia Teacher of the Year

Being a resource

A native of Calhoun, Fuquea has been teaching for 10 years. She graduated from Armstrong Atlantic University in 2014.Before becoming a library media specialist, she taught English for seven years.

As a library media specialist, she helps students and teachers with their basic needs. Fuquea said she helps students with their technology needs, which could include an issue with a laptop. She said she also helps students conduct research by using online resources or looking though a reference book and encourages students to check out books when they read.

Fuquea said she became an educator because she wanted to have a impact on students, just like a teacher was for her.

"I went to Georgia Public Schools my entire life and I always had really phenomenal teachers who would go the extra mile and support me, you know, in anything I needed,” she said. “I just felt like that this is a way that I could give back and kind of pay it forward with the gifts that I had been given through public education. And I really enjoy working with the teenagers.”

When her named was called as a finalist as teacher of the year in late October she was shocked.

"Oh, wow, it was pretty phenomenal, "she said. It's a really nice feeling. I'm very honored by it."

The best part that she likes about her job is that she doesn't have to give her students a grade.

"Honestly, it is great, because I don't give them grades,” she said. "I can help them find materials that they need to learn more or find tools that they need to complete their assignments or to do better.”

Once the COVID-19 pandemic came, Fuquea said she made sure she was available to the teachers and students by emails and phone calls.

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“As far as the students, it is just pretty much what they need,” she said. “I have an open door policy.”

Fuquea said being a classroom teacher prepared her for her role as a library media specialist because she knows what resources a teacher needs, as well as students what students need. She also mentioned, if there is a disciplinary issue with a student, she is able to handle it rather than get an administrator or a teacher to help.

"I know what's needed in the classroom. I've seen that side of it, and so I've seen the things as a teacher, the ways that I would, could be supported by the media specialist," she said.

She said she can’t image doing anything else as a career, and even if she didn’t win the top honor, she still will continue to do the job that she loves.

“Honestly, this doesn't change anything," she said. "For me, I love what I do, and I plan on continuing to do it."

Bianca Moorman is the education reporter. Reach her at BMoorman@gannett.com or 912-239-7706. Find her on Twitter @biancarmoorman.

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Savannah-Chatham Teacher of Year finalist: Lauren Fuquea, Beach High