The State Teachers of the Year for 2024, including Sharon Cole, a second-grade teacher at Ceredo-Kenova Elementary School in Kenova and West Virginia State Teacher of the Year for 2024, take a photo together during a visit to Atlanta, Ga., Jan. 17-21, 2025, for a Teacher of the Year Championship Experience.
Spouses Chris Cole, left, and Sharon Cole, a second-grade teacher at Ceredo-Kenova Elementary School in Kenova and West Virginia State Teacher of the Year for 2024, take a photo in the Mercedes-Benz Stadium during a visit to Atlanta, Ga., Jan. 17-21, 2025, for a Teacher of the Year Championship Experience.
Sharon Cole, center, a second-grade teacher at Ceredo-Kenova Elementary School and the other State Teachers of the Year for 2024 are recognized on the field of the Mercedes-Benz Stadium during a visit to Atlanta, Georgia, Friday through Tuesday, Jan. 2 -Jan. 17, 2025.
Sharon Cole takes a photo in front of the Mercedes-Benz Stadium during a visit to Atlanta, Georgia, Friday through Tuesday, Jan. 2 -Jan. 17, 2025 for a Teacher of the Year Championship Experience.
Sharon Cole and her husband Chris Cole attend a Taste of the Championship event at the Georgia Aquarium during a visit to Atlanta, Georgia, Friday through Tuesday, Jan. 2 -Jan. 17, 2025, for a Teacher of the Year Championship Experience.
Sharon Cole, center, a second-grade teacher at Ceredo-Kenova Elementary School in Kenova and West Virginia State Teacher of the Year for 2024, and some other State Teachers of the Year for 2024 take a photo together in front of the The Candler Hotel after participating in a 5K during a visit to Atlanta, Georgia, Friday through Tuesday, Jan. 2 -Jan. 17, 2025 for a Teacher of the Year Championship Experience.
Sharon Cole, a second grade teacher at Ceredo-Kenova Elementary School in Kenova and West Virginia State Teacher of the Year for 2024, takes a photo wearing some of the gear and holding the football that she received in her swag bag during a visit to Atlanta, Georgia, Friday through Tuesday, Jan. 2 -Jan. 17, 2025, for a Teacher of the Year Championship Experience.
The State Teachers of the Year for 2024, including Sharon Cole, a second-grade teacher at Ceredo-Kenova Elementary School in Kenova and West Virginia State Teacher of the Year for 2024, take a photo together during a visit to Atlanta, Ga., Jan. 17-21, 2025, for a Teacher of the Year Championship Experience.
Sharon Cole | Courtesy photos
Sharon Cole, center, a second-grade teacher at Ceredo-Kenova Elementary School and the other State Teachers of the Year for 2024 are recognized on the field of the Mercedes-Benz Stadium during a visit to Atlanta, Georgia, Friday through Tuesday, Jan. 2 -Jan. 17, 2025.
Sharon Cole | Courtesy photo
Sharon Cole takes a photo in front of the Mercedes-Benz Stadium during a visit to Atlanta, Georgia, Friday through Tuesday, Jan. 2 -Jan. 17, 2025 for a Teacher of the Year Championship Experience.
Sharon Cole | Courtesy photo
Sharon Cole and her husband Chris Cole attend a Taste of the Championship event at the Georgia Aquarium during a visit to Atlanta, Georgia, Friday through Tuesday, Jan. 2 -Jan. 17, 2025, for a Teacher of the Year Championship Experience.
Sharon Cole | Courtesy photo
Sharon Cole, center, a second-grade teacher at Ceredo-Kenova Elementary School in Kenova and West Virginia State Teacher of the Year for 2024, and some other State Teachers of the Year for 2024 take a photo together in front of the The Candler Hotel after participating in a 5K during a visit to Atlanta, Georgia, Friday through Tuesday, Jan. 2 -Jan. 17, 2025 for a Teacher of the Year Championship Experience.
Before kickoff at the College Football Playoff national championship game, 2024 West Virginia Teacher of the Year Sharon Cole took to the field with her fellow educators for a special recognition.
Ƶ her final trip with the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) National Teacher of the Year program, Cole, a second grade teacher at Ceredo-Kenova Elementary School visited Atlanta from Jan. 17-21 for a Teacher of the Year Championship Experience with her class.
She also shared the experience with her husband.
Spouses Chris Cole, left, and Sharon Cole, a second-grade teacher at Ceredo-Kenova Elementary School in Kenova and West Virginia State Teacher of the Year for 2024, take a photo in the Mercedes-Benz Stadium during a visit to Atlanta, Ga., Jan. 17-21, 2025, for a Teacher of the Year Championship Experience.
Sharon Cole | Courtesy photo
ƵI was thrilled that my husband, Chris, was able to come along on this final trip,Ƶ Cole said in a written message. ƵHe not only loves the game of football (and was very good at it), but most importantly he has coached me through this season in life and deserves this reward!Ƶ
The College Football Playoff Foundation developed the Teacher of the Year Championship Experience, which is presented by Eckrich, in coordination with the CCSSO, according to the College Football Playoff Foundation/Extra Yard For Teachers website.
ƵIt made me proud to represent West Virginia,Ƶ Cole said. ƵAnother moment of being proud of representing the state I love, the students I love, the profession I love, the people I love.Ƶ
She said the trip also included a summit, a reception and a pizza party, and she and the other teachers of the year got swag bags filled with Nike items and other items, including footballs the teachers signed for each other.
Sharon Cole, a second grade teacher at Ceredo-Kenova Elementary School in Kenova and West Virginia State Teacher of the Year for 2024, takes a photo wearing some of the gear and holding the football that she received in her swag bag during a visit to Atlanta, Georgia, Friday through Tuesday, Jan. 2 -Jan. 17, 2025, for a Teacher of the Year Championship Experience.
Sharon Cole | Courtesy photo
The game was between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, with the Buckeyes winning 34-23.
Cole said she and her husband were pleased with the outcome of the game, and she had people back home rooting for either team, as her son-in-law is an OSU fan, and one of her students is a Notre Dame fan.
Ƶ the 2024 West Virginia Teacher of the year, last year, Cole also got to travel to California in February; to Washington, D.C., in both the spring and the fall; and to a space camp in the summer.
Her D.C. trips consisted of her and her husband, Chris Cole, attending a first-ever state dinner for teachers hosted on May 2, 2024, by then-first lady Jill Biden at the White House and her and four of her colleagues attending a Sept. 21, 2024, Back to School Night at the White House.
Jesten Richardson is a reporter and can be reached at jrichardson@hdmediallc.com and found on X (formerly Twitter) at @JRichardsonHD.
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