Trinna Freeman
FORT BENNING — February 19, 2020 — PEACHTREE CITY, GA — February 19, 2020 — Dr. Christy Huddleston, the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) Southeast District Superintendent and Dr. Lisa B. Coleman, the Georgia/Alabama Community Superintendent are pleased to announce Ms. Trinna Freeman as the 2021 DoDEA Americas Southeast District Teacher of the Year.
Freeman is a science teacher at Don C. Faith Middle School at Fort Benning, Georgia. She teaches eighth grade integrated science and is certified in Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) by supporting military-connected students in technology-enhanced classrooms.
Furthermore, she has served as a professional developer on her school's continuous school improvement (CSI) team and eighth-grade team leader for more than four years. Additionally, Ms. Freeman was a cheerleading coach, AVID site team coordinator and Black history program coordinator. Beyond the walls of Faith Middle School, Ms. Freeman virtually teaches English to overseas students.
Freeman said she is dedicated to reaching every child by creating authentic learning experiences for her students through collaborative work with her fellow teachers. She goes on to say when students enter her classroom environment, they are surrounded by the feeling of love, support, and encouragement to become positive role models in their school, homes, and society. Freeman states that this reinforces her desire and commitment to encourage students to learn and succeed on a global scale.
Ms. Freeman earned a bachelor’s degree in Middle Grades Education from the University of West Georgia, and a master’s degree in Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment from Walden University.
She has worked for DoDEA for the past ten years.
Each District Teacher of the Year is selected by a district panel using specified criteria to review District teacher of the Year applications. Eight teachers will be named District Teacher of the Year for 2021. Each District Teacher of the Year is invited to apply for the DoDEA Teacher of the Year.
The National Teacher of the Year program, run by the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), identifies exceptional teachers nationwide, celebrates their effective work in and outside of the classroom, amplifies their voices and empowers them to take part in policy discussions at the state and national levels.
The year of service for the 2021 District Teacher and the 2021 DoDEA Teacher of the Year will begin on January 1, 2021, and run through December 2021. The selection is made months before the term starts to allow the DoDEA candidate and other candidates from the 50 states time to participate in the National Teacher of the Year program, which selects a finalist in December. The current (2020) DoDEA Teacher of the Year's term runs through the end of December 2020.
