Pencils and rulers have given way to in-class iPads over the years, but some classroom standards remain the same, such as the dedicated pros who lead our children in learning for life.

In honor of a new school year, we caught up with two busy educators in Garner, for a glimpse at how they work, play — and a sampling of how all the town’s teachers strive to put kids first.
 

Tiffany Lachenmayr
Timber Drive Elementary

It’s a blast from the past, stepping into Tiffany Lachenmayr’s fourth-grade classroom: The alphabet, in cursive, serves as a wall border, and 26 book bags stuff numbered cubbies.

A motivational sign declares “Your choices + Your actions = Your life,” and the posted schedule includes the three R’s and then some.

But a lot more is new in today’s classroom than old, from iPads for each student to teacher Tiffany Lachenmayr, who professes hot yoga and marathon running as her afterschool passions.

Using a quiet shake of a maraca to capture students’ attention, and a soft voice that’s the essence of cultivated calm, Lachenmayr even used her recent European vacation time to gather artifacts from the “fourth-grade continent” of study to share with students…Read more
 

Drew Cook
Garner Magnet High School
Another five minutes would have changed the life story of Drew Cook, and those of students at Garner Magnet High School.

Literally on his way to accept his first teaching job, a middle school position, Cook received an offer from then-GMHS principal John Williams.

“My wife Becky and I married in 1997, right after college, and we had a deal that whoever got the first job, that’s where we would go,” Cook said.

Williams’ offer of a social studies teaching spot and junior varsity basketball coach at Cook’s alma mater was a dream come true.

“As a teacher, I loved history, politics and government and looked forward to conversations and debates with the students, and to the challenge of helping them see history as relevant,” Cook said…Read more
 

The Town of Garner was named one of 10 All-America Cities for 2013, during an award ceremony held in Denver on June 16.

Dubbed the “Nobel Prize” for civic accomplishment, the prestigious All-America City Award recognizes citizen engagement and cross-sector collaboration in meeting challenges within the community.

The last Wake County municipality to earn the award was Raleigh, in 1974-75.

Garner’s presentation to the judging panel highlighted citizen-led efforts to build the Garner Veterans Memorial; to sustain Community of Hope’s after-school program, food pantry and other activities; and to boost the performing arts scene at Garner Performing Arts Center.

The town’s award application also cited citizen-led efforts such as the Meals on Wheels program at Garner Senior Center; the annual Relay…Read more