David Byers, a dental hygiene instructor at Lanier Technical College’s Oakwood campus, was named the Technical College System of Georgia’s Instructor of the Year at a Thursday night banquet for the system’s top educators and students. He received the Rick Perkins Award for Excellence in Technical Instruction, which aims to honor instructors who make significant contributions to technical education through innovation and leadership in their fields, and a $1,000 check. "David Byers is committed to providing his students at Lanier Technical College with the knowledge and skills that they need to succeed in their dental careers," said system commissioner Ron Jackson.