Mike Cihla
Anchor
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Mike came to Savannah and WTOC-TV in September 2000.
Mike is an award winning journalist who before Savannah, worked as an anchor/reporter at TV stations in Knoxville, Tennessee, Austin, Minnesota (Spamtown USA) and Sioux Falls, S.D.
Mike was born and raised in the small town of Lonsdale, Minn. He graduated from St. Cloud State University, (MN) in 1993, with a BS in Mass Commmunication, Minors in Political Science and Speech.
He LOVES living in Savannah because of it's beauty, history, and mild winters (But after growing up in Minnesota winters, anywhere else is mild.) Join Mike weeknights for THE News at Noon, 4pm, 6pm and 7pm on WTOC.
Updated: Feb. 1, 2023 at 6:46 PM EST
|By Mike Cihla
This week’s WTOC Top Teacher had 4 different students nominate him for the honor.
Updated: Jan. 25, 2023 at 6:53 PM EST
|By Mike Cihla
Teaching is about much more than throwing out numbers and facts, it’s about reaching and challenging students that they can do the work.
Updated: Jan. 24, 2023 at 4:31 PM EST
|By Mike Cihla
Reading is essential and serves as the basic building block for all learning.
Updated: Jan. 18, 2023 at 3:25 PM EST
|By Mike Cihla
There was a lot of excitement when WTOC walked into Kristen Butkovich’s class.
Updated: Jan. 11, 2023 at 5:27 PM EST
|By Mike Cihla
This week’s WTOC Top Teacher has been in the classroom for over 20 years and thinks each of her students can change the world.
Updated: Jan. 4, 2023 at 7:02 PM EST
|By Mike Cihla
This week’s WTOC Top Teacher says she was inspired by one of her former teachers to have a career in the classroom.
Updated: Dec. 28, 2022 at 6:38 PM EST
|By Mike Cihla
Meet this week’s WTOC Top Teacher from Effingham County.
Updated: Dec. 21, 2022 at 2:07 PM EST
|By Mike Cihla
Nelia Bishop teaches honors physical science and math classes at the STEM Academy at Bartlett in Savannah.
Updated: Dec. 14, 2022 at 7:08 PM EST
|By Mike Cihla
Sometimes a second career is just as rewarding as the first.
Updated: Dec. 7, 2022 at 6:50 PM EST
|By Mike Cihla
Melissa Flummerfelt teaches first grade at Brock Elementary School in Savannah.
Updated: Nov. 30, 2022 at 5:46 PM EST
|By Mike Cihla
Teaching can be a tough profession but also one of the most rewarding.
Updated: Nov. 23, 2022 at 6:47 PM EST
|By Mike Cihla
Elvanzetta McCall teaches at Coastal Academy in Liberty County.
Updated: Nov. 16, 2022 at 3:39 PM EST
|By Mike Cihla
Sean Vetrovsky teaches middle school science at Charles Ellis Montessori Academy in Savannah.
Updated: Nov. 9, 2022 at 6:54 PM EST
|By Mike Cihla
This week’s WTOC Top Teacher wants her students to learn the subject matter as well as become critical thinkers, all while building a strong relationship with her students.
Updated: Nov. 2, 2022 at 6:50 PM EDT
|By Mike Cihla
The WTOC News crew had barely got in the door when the children burst into applause for their teacher, Emelie Deleon at Coastal Middle School in Chatham County.
Updated: Oct. 26, 2022 at 5:07 PM EDT
|By Mike Cihla
Every child is gifted. They just unwrap that gift at different times. and nobody knows that better than a special needs educator.
Updated: Oct. 19, 2022 at 7:02 PM EDT
|By Mike Cihla
This week’s WTOC Top Teacher is a calming influence for his students but also gives them the motivation they need to succeed in school.
Updated: Oct. 12, 2022 at 5:19 PM EDT
|By Mike Cihla
Music can change the world because it can change people. It’s a feeling that can give a person a lift.
Updated: Oct. 5, 2022 at 4:15 PM EDT
|By Mike Cihla
AP Calculus can be tough for even the best high school students. But one teacher tries to make sure no one gets left behind, using some of the skills he learned while serving in the military.
Updated: Sep. 28, 2022 at 4:10 PM EDT
|By Mike Cihla
Science and technology are the future. And in Claxton, students are learning about all the possible careers that they may want to pursue from this WTOC Top Teacher.
Updated: Sep. 21, 2022 at 4:17 PM EDT
|By Mike Cihla
Amanda Sanders Kindergarten class at Sand Hill Elementary is working on their numbers and counting.
Updated: Sep. 14, 2022 at 6:55 PM EDT
|By Mike Cihla
The gift of reading can open up new worlds for a student. and this week’s WTOC Top teacher is trying to do just that for her students in Darien.
Updated: Sep. 7, 2022 at 6:53 PM EDT
|By Mike Cihla
When you find something you love to do you stick with it.
Updated: Aug. 31, 2022 at 6:49 PM EDT
|By Mike Cihla
Some times inspiration comes from a number of different sources but all can help lead you on the path for your life’s work.
Updated: Aug. 24, 2022 at 6:57 PM EDT
|By Mike Cihla
Students are back in school and so are the sweet sounds of music.
Updated: Aug. 17, 2022 at 6:57 PM EDT
|By Mike Cihla
Many people singing the praises of this week’s Top Teacher Hannah Hutcheson.
Updated: May. 20, 2022 at 12:30 PM EDT
|By Mike Cihla
These first students have come a long ways since they started this school year. Helped along by their teacher Nicole Knoblauch at Hesse k-8 school in Savannah.
Updated: May. 18, 2022 at 6:56 PM EDT
|By Mike Cihla
It’s almost time to the end the school year, but before the student’s head home for summer, WTOC has one last teacher to recognize.
Updated: May. 11, 2022 at 7:46 PM EDT
|By Mike Cihla
The students at Statesboro High School are excited that their teacher Lee Sulham received this week’s WTOC Top Teacher.
Updated: May. 4, 2022 at 3:51 PM EDT
|By Mike Cihla
Practice makes perfect in Rachel Stephens 3rd grade class at South Effingham Elementary School.
Updated: Apr. 27, 2022 at 4:40 PM EDT
|By Mike Cihla
Music is life, that’s why our hearts have beats and one choir teacher is hoping her students have huge hearts while making beautiful music together.
Updated: Apr. 20, 2022 at 6:51 PM EDT
|By Mike Cihla
She was born and raised in Savannah and gets to teach what she loves in the classroom and on stage.
Updated: Apr. 13, 2022 at 6:49 PM EDT
|By Mike Cihla
Sierra Roberts teaches 2nd grade at Joseph Martin Elementary School in Hinesville. Roberts says her class is like one big family.
Updated: Apr. 6, 2022 at 2:15 PM EDT
|By Mike Cihla
It takes a lot of patience to be a Pre-K teacher, as the students are going to school for the first time.
Updated: Mar. 30, 2022 at 6:57 PM EDT
|By Mike Cihla
Special needs students need a special kind of teacher, who can give them the support and sometimes space they need to succeed. Meet Debra Phillips from Southeast Bulloch Middle School.
Updated: Mar. 23, 2022 at 6:59 PM EDT
|By Mike Cihla
Bailey Thornton is reading Mr. Popper’s Penguins with her 4th grade class at Calvary Day School in Savannah.
Updated: Mar. 16, 2022 at 4:06 PM EDT
|By Mike Cihla
The WTOC Top Teacher award was a nice surprise for Amy Keating, who teaches second grade at Memorial Day School in Savannah.
Updated: Mar. 2, 2022 at 7:56 PM EST
|By Mike Cihla
Debra Hammer is reading to her kindergarten class at First Christian Academy in Richmond Hill.
Updated: Feb. 23, 2022 at 4:33 PM EST
|By Mike Cihla
What better place to live and teach students about the tides and the sea breeze than right here along the coast.
Updated: Feb. 16, 2022 at 2:38 PM EST
|By Mike Cihla
Sydnee Helms always knew she wanted to be a teacher and for the last nine years has been.
Updated: Feb. 9, 2022 at 4:37 PM EST
|By Mike Cihla
She grew up in Baxley and is sharing her love of music with her students in her hometown.
Updated: Feb. 2, 2022 at 4:34 PM EST
|By Mike Cihla
She’s passionate about her job and tries to make learning as fun as possible for her students. Meet this week’s WTOC Top Teacher, Rachel Harewood from Tattnall County.
Updated: Jan. 26, 2022 at 6:55 PM EST
|By Mike Cihla
“If they don’t feel comfortable, they are not going to come in here to do the work to start with.”
Updated: Jan. 19, 2022 at 3:36 PM EST
|By Mike Cihla
She was born and raised in Screven County and teaching is her dream job.
Updated: Jan. 12, 2022 at 3:59 PM EST
|By Mike Cihla
With a new calendar year, it’s always fun to look back at the past year.
Updated: Jan. 5, 2022 at 4:43 PM EST
|By Mike Cihla
It’s a huge transition for a child to go from elementary school to middle school. This week’s WTOC Top teacher tries to help her students bridge that gap by being a guide for their learning.
Updated: Dec. 29, 2021 at 4:23 PM EST
|By Mike Cihla
LuAnne Cromley teaches second grade at Bryan County Elementary School.
Updated: Dec. 22, 2021 at 2:40 PM EST
|By Mike Cihla
“In my classroom, one of the things we don’t say is can’t, we say we can. It may take some a little bit longer but they all can do it,” Ansley McCarty said.
Updated: Dec. 15, 2021 at 3:57 PM EST
|By Mike Cihla
Jan Avila doesn’t always like the spotlight.
Updated: Dec. 8, 2021 at 5:26 PM EST
|By Mike Cihla
When you wake up in the morning and head to work... some call it a job, others would say it’s their calling.
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