Jefferson’s Restaurant Announces Inaugural “Teacher of the Year” Winner

Jefferson’s of Manchester has announced that Cindy Fletcher has been named the first-ever Jefferson’s Manchester Teacher of the Year! Mrs. Fletcher teaches kindergarten at North Coffee Elementary School. A Coffee County resident for 38 years, Mrs. Fletcher has been teaching for 22 years.

Mrs. Fletcher was chosen from a highly competitive pool of nominations submitted by students and community members. The contest, launched in honor of National Teachers’ Day–today, May 6–aims to recognize one of Manchester’s many deserving educators. Jefferson’s selected Mrs. Fletcher as the Manchester Teacher of the Year for her ability to truly see, love, and advocate for every individual child in her classroom.

“Mrs. Fletcher’s nominators spoke of her creativity and her care,” said Sean McCooey, President of Double Dip Franchise Group. “They spoke of her humor, her playfulness, and the constant development and progress of every pupil she nurtures. As one nominator said, she ‘loves big,’ and she’s clearly beloved for that reason. We’re honored to recognize Mrs. Fletcher for her dedication and her contribution to the Manchester community.”

Mrs. Fletcher will receive a $500 gift card to Jefferson’s, and her achievement will be commemorated with a “Jefferson’s Teacher of the Year” plaque for all restaurant patrons to see.

“I realized I wanted to be a teacher after my son and first daughter were born,” Fletcher said in a statement. “Teaching them how to count and recognize letters made me realize how much I enjoyed watching their eyes light up when they remembered something they had learned. I’ve also loved every time a grown man or woman–a previous student–has yelled my name in the middle of Walmart. They hug me and ask me if I remember them. I love to see how my little ones have changed and grown!”

This year is the pilot run for the Jefferson’s Teacher of the Year award, launched as a sister program to Jefferson’s Coach of the Year award, which runs in the fall. The teachers’ initiative was open to teachers working with students of any age, and candidates could be nominated by students, parents and guardians of students, school officials, or other community members.

If you’d like to congratulate Mrs. Fletcher or share a story about her as a teacher, please do so by commenting on her winner announcement post on Facebook and Instagram.