2027 Teacher of the Year: Local educators honored as schools select Teachers of the Year

 

 

The educator named 2027 district TOTY will officially serve from July 2026 - June 2027 and will apply to be the state TOTY in the fall of 2026.

    The first step of the district’s search for its 2027 Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) Teacher of the Year (TOTY) is complete, and the local school Teachers of the Year have been designated as final selections in their schools.      

     “At Gwinnett County Public Schools, we are proud to honor the extraordinary educators who inspire and care for students every day,” said GCPS Interim Superintendent Dr. Al Taylor. “Being named Teacher of the Year is a testament to their passion for teaching and their commitment to ensuring every child has the chance to succeed. Their influence reaches far beyond the classroom, enriching our schools and strengthening our community.” 

     The GCPS TOTY program is aligned with the state and national Teacher of the Year programs. The educator named district TOTY will officially serve from July 2026 – June 2027 and will apply to be the state TOTY in the fall of 2026. 

     The local school honorees will move into the next phase of the TOTY process as they are considered for the system-wide honor. In October, this group will be narrowed down to 25 semifinalists. Six finalists from that group will be chosen in November. On January 29, 2026, at 6:30 p.m., GCPS will host a banquet celebration honoring all local school teachers, naming this year’s finalists, and naming the top teacher in Gwinnett County.  

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Here’s an overview of the selection process: 

Step 1:  All teachers at each participating Gwinnett school nominate and vote for their local school Teacher of the Year.   

Step 2:  All school-level Teachers of the Year applications are screened (note, identifying information is redacted), and 25 semifinalists for the county-level honor are selected. 

Step 3: The 25 semifinalists’ applications are scored by the Phase II committee to determine the six finalists. 

Step 4:  A selection committee of teachers, central office personnel, and administrators will conduct in-person and virtual visits and complete thorough interviews with each educator. The committee will look for effective teaching methods, study the educator’s teaching philosophy, consider the influence the teacher has had on the teaching practices of his or her colleagues, and review the teacher’s impact on student engagement and achievement.

Step 5: From the six finalists, the committee will select a Teacher of the Year for each level—elementary, middle, and high. One of the level winners will be recognized as GCPS’ 2027 Teacher of the Year.   

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GCPS’ 2027 Local School Teachers of the Year (TOTYs)

Alcova Elementary School, Jennifer Bunten, Reading, Writing, and Language Arts Teacher (Grade 4)

Alford Elementary School, Michelle Elam, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies Teacher (Grade 5)

Anderson-Livsey Elementary School, Kellye Armstard, 1st Grade Teacher

Annistown Elementary School, Charnae Johnson, Reading and Social Studies Teacher (Grade 2)

Arcado Elementary School, Marcenia D. Hobson, Special Education Emotional Behavior Disorder Teacher (Grades 3-4)

Archer High School, Chelsea DeLeon Walker, Visual Arts Teacher (Grades 9-12)

Baggett Elementary School, Marquiesha Pless Morris, 2nd Grade Teacher

Baldwin Elementary School, Brandon Whisonant, Literacy Coach (Grades K-5)

Bay Creek Middle School, Rachel P. Turner, Chorus Teacher (Grades 6-8)

Beaver Ridge Elementary School, Taylor Johnson, Physical Education Teacher (Grades Pre-K-5)

Benefield Elementary School, Christine Marie Kennedy, 1st Grade Teacher

Berkeley Lake Elementary School, Trina Ashadele, Special Education Interrelated Resource—Language Arts and Mathematics Teacher (Grades 1, 2, and 5)

Berkmar High School, Brittany Pickford, Mathematics Teacher (Grades 9-10)

Berkmar Middle School, Kelly Rollocks, Visual Arts Teacher (Grades 6-8)

Bethesda Elementary School, Tram Nguyen, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies Teacher (Grade 5)

Britt Elementary School, Tywage McKinney, Mathematics and Science Teacher (Grade 5)

Brookwood Elementary School, Laura Colliver, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Teacher (Grades K-5)

Brookwood High School, Kelly Swanson, Advanced Placement Psychology Teacher (Grades 11-12)

Buice Center, Alexandra Gloede, Special Education Transition, ADAPT Program Teacher (Grades 12+)

Burnette Elementary School, Stephanie Guynn, 3rd Grade Teacher

Camp Creek Elementary School, Vim Russo, Dual Language Immersion Teacher (Grade 4)

Cedar Hill Elementary School, Uma Krishnamurthy, Gifted and Advanced Content Teacher (Grades 4-5)

Centerville Elementary School, Jasmine Woods, 2nd Grade Teacher

Central Gwinnett High School, Amanda Baker, Health Occupations Teacher (Grades 9-12)

Chattahoochee Elementary School, Rachel Burns, 2nd Grade Teacher

Chesney Elementary School, Bridget Hyde, 4th Grade Teacher

Coleman Middle School, Nicole Burch, Language Arts and Social Studies Teacher (Grade 7)

Collins Hill High School, Kayla Bridgeforth, Spanish Teacher (Grades 9-12)

Cooper Elementary School, Paloma Smith, 2nd Grade Teacher

Corley Elementary School, Jason Huttinga, Computer Science Teacher (Grades K-5)

Couch Middle School, Kysha D. Owens, Mathematics and Enhanced Algebra Teacher (Grade 8)

Craig Elementary School, Jenicia Anderson, Kindergarten Teacher

Creekland Middle School, Jacob Thomas Sevier, Band Teacher (Grades 6-8)

Crews Middle School, Rachel Wilson, Special Education Interrelated Resource—Social Studies Teacher (Grade 6)

Dacula Elementary School, Caroline Lewis, 4th Grade Teacher

Dacula High School, Craig Martin, Advanced Placement United States History Teacher (Grade 11)

Dacula Middle School, Dr. Carlton Manning, Science Teacher (Grade 7)

Discovery High School, Randal J. Taylor, Special Education Interrelated Resource— Work-Based Learning and Functional Life Skills Teacher (Grades 9-12)

Duluth High School, Dr. Kinsey Edwards, Orchestra Teacher (Grades 9-12)

Duluth Middle School, Dr. Maling Marino, Special Education Moderate Intellectual Disabilities Teacher (Grades 6-8)

Duncan Creek Elementary School, Rachel Russell, Language Arts Teacher (Grade 5)

Dyer Elementary School, Roberta Thomas, 3rd Grade Teacher

Ferguson Elementary School, Roberta Coleman, 4th Grade Teacher

Five Forks Middle School, Dr. Stephanie Birmingham, Art Teacher (Grades 6-8)

Fort Daniel Elementary School, Jacob Williams, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies Teacher (Grade 3)

Freeman’s Mill Elementary School, Kim Sutton, 1st Grade Teacher

GIVE Center East, Dr. Candice Richardson, Biology Teacher (Grade 9)

GIVE Center West, Dr. James Leak, Language Arts Teacher (Grade 8)

Grace Snell Middle School, Alicia Marable, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Teacher (Grades 6-8)

Graves Elementary School, Collin Van Holsomback, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Teacher (Grades K-5)

Grayson Elementary School, Emily Moss, Kindergarten Teacher

Grayson High School, Dr. Elijah R. Swift, Jr., Advanced Algebra and Dual Enrollment Teacher (Grades 11-12)\

Gwin Oaks Elementary School, Makayla McCarthy, 3rd Grade Teacher

Gwinnett Online Campus, John Foshee, Computer Science and Foundations of Computer Programming Teacher (Grades K-6)

Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology, Hannah Sharpe, Advanced Placement Human Geography and Advanced Placement World History Teacher (Grades 9-10)

Harbins Elementary School, Cindy Parker, Gifted Education Teacher (Grades K-5)

Harmony Elementary School, Jordan Adams, Special Education Specific Learning Disability Teacher (Grades 4-5)

Harris Elementary School, Mark Coker, 4th Grade Teacher

Head Elementary School, Kelly Mraz, Music Teacher (Grades K-5)

Hopkins Elementary School, Estefani Gonzalez, Special Education Autism Spectrum Disorder Level 3 Teacher (Grades K-2)

Hull Middle School, Jacquelyn Hunt, Science Teacher (Grade 6)

International Transition Center, Savanna A. Sledge, Science Teacher (Grades 9-11)

Ivy Creek Elementary School, Yaris Ayala, Dual Language Immersion Teacher (Grade 5)

Jackson Elementary School, Audrey Massey, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Teacher (Grades K-5)

Jenkins Elementary School, Taquella Austin, 1st Grade Teacher

Jones Middle School, Mari-Grace Parillo White, Mathematics Teacher (Grade 6)

Jordan Middle School, Ben Forlaw, Social Studies Teacher (Grade 8)     

Kanoheda Elementary School, Dinah N. Akrong, Special Education Significant Developmental Delay Teacher (Kindergarten)

Knight Elementary School, Maleea Small, Instructional Support Teacher (Grades K-5)

Lanier High School, Trisha Bernstein, Health and Physical Education Teacher (Grades 9-12)

Lanier Middle School, Dr. Jami Friedrich, Language Arts Teacher (Grade 7)

Lawrenceville Elementary School, Paul Brinkley, 3rd Grade Teacher

Level Creek Elementary School, Kristen Ezell, Kindergarten Teacher

Lilburn Elementary School, Amanda Cox, 1st Grade Teacher

Lilburn Middle School, Cathy Richards, Science Teacher (Grade 8)

Lovin Elementary School, Amanda Cashman Baker, 2nd Grade Teacher

Magill Elementary School, Dr. Legena S. Crawford, Kindergarten Teacher

Mason Elementary School, Kayla Johnson, 1st Grade Teacher

Maxwell High School of Technology, Michelle Franke, Therapeutic Services Teacher (Grades 10-12)

McClure Health Science High School, Savannah Guzmán, Visual Arts Teacher (Grades 9-12)

McConnell Middle School, Katie Parrish, Mathematics and Science Teacher (Grade 8)

McKendree Elementary School, Daisy M. Dumler, Special Education Autism Spectrum Disorder Level 1 Teacher (Grades 3-5)

Meadowcreek Elementary School, Trey Wilson, Health Teacher (Grades K-5)

Meadowcreek High School, Shawn Halyard, Algebra: Concepts and Connections Teacher (Grade 9)

Mill Creek High School, Leah Hester, Spanish Teacher (Grades 9-12)

Minor Elementary School, Jessica Mouzon, 4th Grade Teacher

Moore Middle School, Lana Saccomanno, Orchestra and Guitar Teacher (Grades 6-8)

Mountain Park Elementary School, Zographia Sirmans, Kindergarten Teacher

Mountain View High School, William Owens, Music Technology (Grades 9-12)

Mulberry Elementary School, Nicole Simpson-Anderson, Speech and Language Pathologist (Grades Pre-K-5)

Nesbit Elementary School, Bianca Mathis, Language Arts Teacher (Grade 4)

Norcross Elementary School, Aparna Pathak, English to Speakers of Other Languages Teacher (Grade 3)

Norcross High School, Dr. Michael Findley, Advanced Placement Psychology, International Baccalaureate Psychology, and Theory of Knowledge Teacher (Grades 9-12)

North Gwinnett High School, Megan McBee, Language Arts and Language Development in Content Areas Teacher (Grades 9-12)

North Gwinnett Middle School, Greg Morris, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Teacher (Grades 6-8)

North Metro Academy of Performing Arts, Ashley Daniels, English and Social Studies Teacher (Grade 4)

Northbrook Middle School, Jeffrey Borck, Social Studies Teacher (Grade 8)

Norton Elementary School, CJ Mohamed, Language Arts Teacher (Grade 4)

Oakland Meadow School, Molly Angi, Special Education Pervasive Intellectual Disability Teacher (Transition 12+)

Osborne Middle School, Becky Vandett, Accelerated Mathematics Teacher (Grade 6)

Parkview High School, Camelia Calvert, Engineering and Technology Teacher (Grades 9-12)

Parsons Elementary School, Megan Davis, Language Arts and Social Studies Teacher (Grade 5)

Partee Elementary School, Wendy Arnoux, Special Education Autism Spectrum Disorder Level 2 Teacher (Grades 3-5)

Patrick Elementary School, Otellia S. Steward, Kindergarten Teacher

Paul Duke STEM High School, Batavia Sumlin, Computer Science and Game Design Teacher (Grades 9-12)

Peachtree Elementary School, Emily Malanoski, Kindergarten Teacher

Peachtree Ridge High School, Cory Benson, Mathematics Teacher (Grades 9-12)

Pharr Elementary School, Alexandria Bradley, Special Education Autism Spectrum Disorder Level 2 Teacher (Grades 3-5)

Phoenix High School, Cindy Quinlan, Entrepreneurship and Work-Based Learning Teacher (Grades 9-12)

Pinckneyville Middle School, Brianna Loken, Language Arts Teacher (Grade 7)

Puckett’s Mill Elementary School, Dana Harper, Special Education Mild Intellectual Disabilities Teacher (Grades 4-5)

Radloff Middle School, Dr. Lisa Babbage, Social Studies Teacher (Grade 8)

Richards Middle School, Ansley Cook, Band Teacher (Grades 6-8)

Riverside Elementary School, Christine Morcos, Language Arts and Social Studies Teacher (Grade 5)

Roberts Elementary School, Taresa Lee, English to Speakers of Other Languages Teacher (Grades K-5)

Rock Springs Elementary School, Kayla Coatie, Special Education Interrelated Resource Teacher (Grade 5)

Rockbridge Elementary School, Sanica Walker, Gifted Education Teacher (Grades K-5)

Rosebud Elementary School, Stacey Price, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Teacher (Grades K-5)

Seckinger High School, Megan Fowler, Art Teacher (Grades 9-12)

Shiloh Elementary School, Jerion Smith, Language Arts Teacher (Grade 5)

Shiloh High School, Rita Preuss McGill, Language Arts and Spanish Teacher (Grades 10-12)

Shiloh Middle School, Marie Z. Lorminey, Georgia History Teacher (Grade 8)

Simonton Elementary School, Sahara Bryant, 4th Grade Teacher

Simpson Elementary School, Susan Love, Language Arts Teacher (Grade 5)

Snellville Middle School, Mokota Turner, Band and General Music Teacher (Grades 6-8)

South Gwinnett High School, Jimmesse A. Marshall, Algebra: Concepts and Connections Teacher (Grades 9-12)

Starling Elementary School, Rebecca Fritzinger, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies Teacher (Grade 3)

Stripling Elementary School, Kaitlin Conway, 1st Grade Teacher

Sugar Hill Elementary School, Lindsey Eckard, 2nd Grade Teacher

Summerour Middle School, Laura Fey White, Physical Science Teacher (Grade 8)

Suwanee Elementary School, Marie Plueger, Special Education Early Childhood Teacher (Grade Pre-K)

Sweetwater Middle School, Dr. Dawn Jo Alexander, Social Studies Teacher (Grade 7)

Sycamore Elementary School, Mollie Landrey, Language Arts Teacher (Grade 4)

Taylor Elementary School, Katrina Butler, Mathematics Instructional Coach (Grades K-5)

Trickum Middle School, Jhaeryn Good, Mathematics Teacher (Grade 7)

Trip Elementary School, Sarah Browning, Language Arts Teacher (Grade 3)

Twin Rivers Middle School, Austin Hannon, Chorus Teacher (Grades 6-8)

Walnut Grove Elementary School, Cowanna Williams, 2nd Grade Teacher

White Oak Elementary School, Ginger Dean, Special Education Autism Spectrum Disorder Level 3 Teacher (Grades 3-5)

Winn Holt Elementary School, Thien An Nguyen, 1st Grade Teacher

Woodward Mill Elementary School, Laura Baynard, 1st Grade Teacher