Doing a job well can happen with hard work. It can happen with training. It can happen with monetary motivation. But for those who really do their job well, it’s usually because they’re passionate about the work.

That’s the case for English and language arts teacher Michele Hood and science teacher Hugh McKinney, named systemwide teachers of the year at Hall County and Gainesville schools, respectively.

They teach two very different subjects, but they both go to a job each day that they love.

In a process that calls for nominations from their peers, the two teachers were chosen out of all of the teachers of the year for each school. Next, they compete for statewide teacher of the year honors.

Find their stories, along with the other teachers of the year at each Hall and Gainesville school.