The Effingham County Board of Education recognized five teachers who earned master teacher certification from the Georgia Professional Standards Commission, bringing Effingham County’s number of master teachers to 14.

The master teacher program recognizes certified K-12 public school teachers with at least three years of teaching experience in Georgia who consistently demonstrate excellence in the classroom through gains in student achievement.

Honored at the Aug. 16 school board meeting were master teachers Carla Dean (South Effingham Middle), Debra Winans (Ebenezer Middle), Latoya Jones (Blandford Elementary), Johnathon McCoy (Effingham County Middle) and Marti Smith (Effingham County Middle).