Dr. David Byers, a dental hygiene instructor at Lanier Technical College, is the Technical College System of Georgia’s Instructor of the Year for 2014.
TCSG Commissioner Ron Jackson made the announcement during a banquet for the system’s top instructors and students at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Atlanta on April 24. He presented Byers with the Rick Perkins Award for Excellence in Technical Instruction and a $1,000 check.
“David Byers is committed to providing his students at Lanier Technical College with the knowledge and skills that they need to succeed in their dental careers,” said Jackson. “He is a very gifted educator who deserves to be recognized as the best of Georgia’s many great technical college instructors. David has the respect of the entire Technical College System of Georgia and we are proud to honor him as our 2014 instructor of the year.”
Dr. Ray Perren added, “We are so proud of David and the work he does. David Byers is passionate about his students and assuring they are ready for success upon graduation. He will do a great job representing Lanier Tech and all of TCSG as the instructor of the year.”
Selection for the TCSG’s annual Rick Perkins Award begins with the naming of the top technical education instructor at each of the 24 TCSG colleges and the technical division at Bainbridge State College, which is part of the University System of Georgia. Regional competitions follow and narrow the field to nine finalists for the award.
In April, a panel of judges in Atlanta interviews the finalists and picks the TCSG instructor of the year. The winner earns the highest marks for benchmarks including teaching experience, innovation in the classroom, leadership and civic involvement.
For the next year, Byers will serve as the TCSG ambassador for technical education instruction. He will make numerous appearances around Georgia and speak about the quality of instruction and many education opportunities offered by the TCSG colleges. He will also be honored by the Georgia General Assembly and receive a personal commendation from the Governor.
The runner-up for the instructor of the year award was Kim Meeks, an English instructor at Oconee Fall Line Technical College.
This year, almost 7,000 instructors at the 24 TCSG colleges will educate more than 151,000 students and prepare them for in-demand jobs that are vital to Georgia’s economic growth.
About the TCSG:
The 24 colleges of the Technical College System of Georgia offer affordable education and excellent training in more than 600 certificate, diploma and two-year associate degree programs. Students of all ages take advantage of low tuition, outstanding instructors, hands-on learning and state-of-the-art equipment to gain the skills needed for today’s in-demand jobs. In 2013, the TCSG colleges delivered 2.4 million credit hours of instruction to more than 151,000 students. The TCSG is online, too, serving 72,000 students through the system’s Georgia Virtual Technical Connection.
TCSG students enjoy the benefits of Georgia’s HOPE grant and scholarship and the federal Pell grant which can pay for a significant portion of a TCSG education.
The TCSG Office of Adult Education delivered programs to 71,000 adult learners in 2013, including GED preparation and testing services that enabled almost 16,000 men and women to earn their GED credential.
The TCSG Quick Start program provided customized workforce training to almost 58,000 employees of new and expanding companies in Georgia.
For more information about the TCSG and links to the 24 TCSG colleges, go to www.tcsg.edu
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