Congratulations to Clarke Central's Robert Lawrence!

Georgia United Credit Union and Star94 have teamed up to "reward teachers who are making a difference in the lives of students, their parents, and within the communities they serve."

More than 600 people nominated a teacher who's made a difference for them. During the week of May 6th, one of the top five teachers will be honored with a lunch and reception at their school, courtesy of Jimmy John's. Each teacher will receive a $500 prize and a $250 prize for their school. The grand prize winner will get a $2,000 scholarship towards his/her Continuing Education studies.

Communities will be given the chance to vote for one teacher to win the Star Choice Award. Click Here to vote. the winner gets $500 and a Mayfield ice cream party for their classroom.

Here's what they're saying about Dr. Robert Lawrence, Clarke Central's director of bands:

Dr. Lawrence holds a Bachelor of Music Education Degree and an Educational Specialist Degree from Troy State University in Troy, AL. He received his Masters in Music Education from Boston University and his Ph.D in Pedagogy of Music from The American Conservatory of Music. He is a seventeen-time decorated veteran of the United States Army and the former Drum Major for the Troy University "Sound of the South" Marching Band. He has been recognized by the Georgia Teacher of the Year Association, the Georgia Retired Teacher of the Year Association and by Wal-Mart Industries as an Outstanding Educator.

Dr. Lawrence is a member of a number of academic and professional organizations, including: Georgia Music Educators Association, Music Educators National Conference, Phi Mu Alpha Professional Music Fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., Kappa Kappa Psi Honorary Band Fraternity, Aswan Shriner's Temple 115 and the Georgia Music Education Association. On the weekends, you can find him reading, fishing or participating in activities with his church, Crossroads Baptist.

And he says: "My favorite part of teaching is experiencing the musically inspired growth and maturity of my students; consequently, all should know that change is a process, not an event!"