The 2012 Forsyth County Teacher of the Year will be announced at the Celebration of Excellence on February 17. 2012, beginning at 11:30 a.m. at the Forsyth Conference Center. Here are the finalists.

 2012 Elementary School Teacher of the Year:

Antoinette “Toni” Sullivan, Coal Mountain Elementary School, Art Teacher

Ms. Sullivan received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Mercyhurst College in Pennsylvania. Prior to joining Coal Mountain in 2009, she worked at Chattahoochee and Silver City elementary schools. In 2010, Ms. Sullivan received special recognition for her charitable service from the Commander of the Cumming VFW Post 9143. She also serves as a parent volunteer with the North Forsyth High School robotics team, and lent her artistic talents to the high school’s production of the Wizard of Oz .

2012 Middle School Teacher of the Year:

Tracey Heffelfinger, Little Mill Middle School, Math Teacher

Ms. Heffelfinger received her Bachelor’s degree from Furman University and her Master’s degree from Walden University. Prior to joining Little Mill Middle School in 2007, she worked at Liberty Middle School. Ms. Heffelfinger, who worked in the computer field for close to 20 years before transitioning to education, is active in her community.  She has participated in productions at the Holly Theatre in Dahlonega, knitted 1,200 items for Neonatal Intensive Care Units in two states, and has volunteered over 500 hours at the Georgia Aquarium.

2012 High School Teacher of the Year:

Anna Aigner-Muehler, Forsyth Central High School, Foreign Language Teacher

A graduate of Forsyth County Schools, Ms. Aigner-Muehler received her Bachelor’s degree from Agnes Scott College and her Master’s degree from Leslie University. She started her teaching career as a Fulbright Teaching Assistant in Austria, and joined Forsyth Central High School in 2000. In 2009 she became a teacher leader at the district's Academy @ Night. Ms. Aigner-Muehler, a 2009 STAR teacher, serves as the sponsor of her school’s German Club, manages the Instructional Focus (IF) program and is the Foreign Language Department Chair. 

The 2012 Forsyth County Teacher of the Year will be announced at the Celebration of Excellence on February 17. 2012, beginning at 11:30 a.m. at the Forsyth Conference Center.