2012 Annual Report - State Bar of Georgia

Outstanding Teacher Coaches for 2011
The descriptions of outstanding coaches are taken from the letters submitted to support
their nomination for this award.
Michael Nixon
Walton High School
Region 11 – Marietta
As a teacher coach, Michael Nixon, began the mock trial program at
Walton High School (Marietta) in the 2002‐2003 school year and has
continued to coach the team to the present. During his nine y ear tenure,
Walton High School has been the regional champion five times, the team’s
success partly due to the “energy, enthusiasm, and commitment of Michael Nixon to the program and
to his students.” According to one team member, Michael is an “incredible mentor – hard‐working,
reliable and patient. He is genuinely concerned about his students and will go out of his way to help
them with anything, be it mock trial, school work or stress management.” Team members also state
that “for his tireless dedication, supreme empathy, and wise advice, Mr. Nixon commands my highest
respect and admiration” and that “with the help of Mr. Nixon’s coaching, I found confidence within
myself I never knew existed, a drive to work hard and achieve goals. I never imagined achieving, and,
most of all, a passion for the art of argumentation and law.” “I have learned that I can do anything I set
my mind to, no matter how great the challenge.”
Amy Payne
Union County High School
Region 6 – Dalton
Amy Payne has been a teacher coach for the past nine years. She began
her mock trial career in 2003 at Fannin County High School (Blue Ridge)
where she started the mock trial program. In the two years she coached at
Fannin County, the team was runner‐up in the regional competition both
years. Amy then took a teaching position at Union County High School (Blairsville) and in 2006 began
the mock trial program here as well. In the seven years she has coached at Union County, the team
was selected as the Northern Wildcard in 2009 and the Region 6 Champion in 2010 and 2011. Amy is
an “organizer and motivator of young adults.” She has “remarkable insight into each student’s
potential and a unique ability to connect with students and really teach them.” Amy ahs a “special gift
that brings out the best the students have to offer.” One of her team members states that from Mrs.
Payne “I have learned that hard work and dedication will take me anywhere I want to go in life.”
Another team member sums it up by writing “Mrs. Payne is selfless, putting the team before herself in
every situation, sacrificing hours of her time to go above and beyond what is expected.”
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