At the Thursday May 10th meeting of the Hickory Rotary Club, the 2012 Teacher of the Year for the Hickory City Schools was announced. This award is given in memory of Wilmer M. Jenkins, who served as superintendent of Hickory Public Schools and who was a member of Hickory Rotary Club. Teachers nominated for this year’s award are:
- Jordan Caldwell, Social Studies Teacher, Hickory Magnet
- Jill Franjione, Kindergarten Teacher, Oakwood Elementary
- Anyea Gibson, Third Grade Teacher, Viewmont Elementary
- Julie Grice, ESL Teacher, Grandview Middle
- April Kehoe, ESL Teacher, Hickory HighTeresa Oakley, Literary Coach, Longview Elementary
- Cynthia Parrish, Counselor, Jenkins Elementary
- Kristin Wilson, Fifth Grade Teacher, Southwest Elementary
- David Wortman, Band Director, Northview Middle
Each nominee receives a check for $500 and the Teacher of the Year receives $1000. All of the nominees are outstanding educators and are well respected by their students, peers and co-workers.

(L-R) Julie Grice, Teresa Oakley, April Kehoe, Anyea Gibson, David Wortman, Kristin Wilson, Cynthia Parrish, Jordan Caldwell, Jill Franjione
This year the selection committee chose Jill Franjione of Oakwood Elementary as Teacher of the Year 2012. Congratulations to all the nominees and thank you for your service to Hickory Public Schools.