'I am elated:' Columbia County Teacher of the Year goes to Greenbrier High instructor

Miguel Legoas, Augusta Chronicle
·2 min read
Crystal McDowell of Greenbrier High School stands in front of the new BMW X1 series SUV she won after being named Columbia County Teacher of the Year at Savannah Rapids Pavilion in Martinez on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023.
Crystal McDowell of Greenbrier High School stands in front of the new BMW X1 series SUV she won after being named Columbia County Teacher of the Year at Savannah Rapids Pavilion in Martinez on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023.

Crystal McDowell's colleagues were blowing up her phone Wednesday night.

"Messages were coming in and everyone was just so excited," she said Thursday. "They were thrilled, contacting me and congratulating me, and I was getting emails from other colleagues. It was amazing, the outpouring of support."

This came right after the Greenbrier High School science teacher was named Columbia County Teacher of the Year's during the school district's banquet at Savannah Rapids Pavilion in Martinez.

"I am elated," McDowell said. "It's still quite overwhelming and still a little shock factor. But, I'm just so honored."

McDowell teaches multiple subjects at Greenbrier including AP Biology, Biology, Human Anatomy and Physiology, and Genetics. She is a major advocate for how STEM (science, technology, engineering and math education) can be integrated in all disciplines. As part of that, she wants to be sure children have the critical skills necessary for identifying and solving real-world problems.

McDowell is also one of three finalists for the NSTA Shell National Science Teacher Award and she is a Georgia finalist for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching.

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Possibly her biggest prize was a one-year lease on a new BMW X1 series SUV, which McDowell has already had some fun with. But this achievement will also allow her to compete for a chance at being named the next Georgia Teacher of the Year.

"I really want to use this opportunity to make sure that we really bring education to the forefront and I work in a district that that is their vision," McDowell said. "I want to take that energy and that passion and I want to translate that into representing our district in the state of Georgia and, hopefully, moving on to be able to a voice at a higher level."

The other four district finalists were Evans High's Cassandra Rodriguez, Stallings Island Middle's Brook Andrews, Greenbrier Elementary's Allison Dixon and River Ridge Elementary's Jennifer Roper. For full bios of all five finalists, go to ccboe.net.

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Greenbrier High's Crystal McDowell is Columbia Co. Teacher of the Year