2027 Gwinnett County Teacher of the Year: Dr. Candice Richardson named Gwinnett County’s Teacher of the Year

     A 9th-grade Biology teacher who is committed to education that is rooted in the foundation of informed decision making, meaningful contributions, and pursuing dreams has earned the title of 2027 Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) Teacher of the Year (TOTY). On January 29, GCPS announced  Dr. Candice Richardson of the Gwinnett InterVention Education (GIVE) Center East as the recipient of the district’s highest teaching honor. Held at Gas South Convention Center, the district awarded all local school Teachers of the Year, 25 outstanding semifinalists, and the top six finalists. Principals, district staff, event sponsors, and other esteemed guests were in attendance to support the awardees.

     Before this achievement, Dr. Richardson was named GCPS High School Teacher of the Year. Dr. Richardson was selected from a select group of six finalists, two from each education level (elementary, middle, and high.) Austin Hannon of Twin Rivers Middle School was selected as the district’s middle school Teacher of the Year, and Tram Nguyen of Bethesda Elementary School was selected as the district’s elementary school Teacher of the Year and runner-up.

     The TOTY selection process begins with nominations at the local school level. Each school selects a local school Teacher of the Year, and from the local winners, 25 semifinalists are selected. A second selection committee then narrows the 25 semifinalists to six before an overall winner is chosen. In addition to the three level winners below, the other three finalists were Stephanie Guynn of Burnette Elementary School, Dr. Lisa Babbage of Radloff Middle School, and Batavia Sumlin of Paul Duke STEM High School.

Gwinnett County Public Schools’ Teacher of the Year program is aligned with the state and national Teacher of the Year programs, with our naming convention - 2027 Teacher of the Year. 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.

Dr. Candice Richardson - 9th Grade Biology Teacher at GIVE Center East

     Dr. Candice Richardson is a change-maker at her school, consistently finding ways to innovate and reinforce a positive school culture each and every day. Dr. Richardson implemented “Level Up: Every Day Counts” to battle chronic absenteeism in her Biology classroom. The initiative, which allowed students to wear colored sneakers for perfect attendance, increased student attendance and spread across the school, unifying the school community as more grade levels and staff became involved. “The program’s visible symbols – colored sneakers and matching shirts – serve as daily reminders of our shared success and collective growth,” Dr. Richardson shares. “Knowing that this initiative continues to shape a school culture grounded in belonging, accountability, and celebration is deeply fulfilling, and it stands as a testament to the power of collaborative leadership driving meaningful, sustained change.” Dr. Richardson is also a champion of Social-Emotional Learning (SEL), for her learning starts with fostering belonging. “Ultimately, my goal is for every student to see that learning is not confined to tests or grades; it is a foundation for pursuing dreams, making informed decisions, and contributing meaningfully to their communities,” Dr. Richardson explains. “When a student tells me, ‘I get it, I understand why learning this is important,’ I know I am fulfilling the GCPS mission.” Dr. Richardson is also involved professionally as a member of Teachers As Leaders (TAL); a Gwinnett Writes Team Lead, where she has worked to improve clarity and accessibility for testing, and as a GEMS Mentor to marginalized students, where she has also coached colleagues on trauma-informed and culturally responsive practices, fostering a culture of empathy.

     Dr. Richardson started her educational journey in GCPS at GIVE Center East in 2022 as a Study Skills Teacher. Dr. Richardson holds a bachelor’s degree in Biology from Tuskegee University, a master’s degree in Family Medicine from the University of the West Indies, a second master’s degree in Public Health from the University of South Florida, and a specialist medical degree in Surgery and Medicine from the University of the West Indies.

Tram Nguyen - 5th Grade Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies Teacher at Bethesda Elementary School

     Tram Nguyen is a teacher who encourages students to find their spark in and outside of the classroom by finding ways to bridge the gap in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education. In Nguyen’s classroom, every student is an individual with ability and talent. “I believe every child is a genius and finds joy in learning when given equitable opportunities to create and communicate in ways that reflect their strengths,” Nguyen shares. “In my classroom, I provide choice and flexibility in how students demonstrate learning.” Continuing to see the opportunity to build bridges, Nguyen took it upon herself to initiate school-wide celebrations of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AANHPI) for the first time. She helped students put together a showcase that included music, dance, and poetry, sparking curiosity and engagement among her school community. “Some students were hesitant to participate because they didn’t know much about AANHPI culture,” Nguyen says. “Now students actively ask to join heritage programs either as performers or models, with many expressing that they want to learn more about their own culture or support their classmates.” The celebration has grown to include other schools like Berkmar High School and community partners. Culture and community also come full circle in Nguyen’s classroom, where she led a personal finance lesson that allowed students to design a Food Truck with 3D. The project charged students to build trucks that reflect cultural traditions, local needs, or personal stories connected to food, identity, and heritage. “I developed this project-based learning combined with culturally responsive teaching to teach economics concepts such as the function of a business, competition, risk-taking, and consumer behavior,” Nguyen explains. “It became a powerful learning experience because students apply these ideas in authentic ways while bringing their lived experiences and creativity into our classroom.”

     Nguyen began working with Team GCPS in 2019 at Bethesda Elementary School as an English Language Arts and Mathematics Instructional Clerk. She holds both a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and a master’s degree in Creative and Innovative Education from Georgia State University.

Austin Hannon - 6th-8th Grade Chorus Teacher at Twin Rivers Middle School

     Austin Hannon is not only molding young minds in his Chorus classroom but also helping students discover the strength and power behind their voices. Hannon is motivated by making students feel valued and challenged when they step into his classroom, preparing them for real-world occurrences. Hannon says challenging students brings them confidence. “Whether performing for judges, auditioning for state-level ensembles, or collaborating with peers from across the county, my students are applying their knowledge in ways that build both musical and life skills. These opportunities not only align with district initiatives but also ensure students see themselves as capable, accomplished learners who can thrive in any setting.” Hannon has made a commitment to ensure students don’t feel like another number in his classroom, community, and cluster. He has orchestrated an annual cluster-wide choral concert, sent numerous students to choir competitions like Large Group Performance Evaluation (LGPE) and All-State Chorus, and selected a diverse range of choir music from around the world that caters to the needs of the student population. “As a Chorus teacher, I see every day that real harmony isn’t about everyone singing the same note,” Hannon shares. “It’s about listening carefully, making adjustments, and respecting each student’s unique voice and story. My job is to guide students to listen to one another musically, take creative risks, and build confidence in their individual sound.” Hannon is also an active member of the Georgia Music Educators Association, consistently coordinates professional development sessions for colleagues, and serves as a clinician for other directors and their choir students.

     Hannon started his journey with GCPS in 2022 as a Chorus Teacher at Twin Rivers Middle School. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Georgia Southern University, a master’s degree in Choral Conducting and Music Education from the University of Southern Mississippi, and a specialist degree in Advanced Educational Studies from Augusta University.

GCPS would like to thank this year’s sponsors for their support of great teachers and for making this celebration of outstanding teaching possible.

Presenting Sponsor:

Peach State Federal Credit Union

Platinum Sponsors:

Arey Jones Educational Solutions 

BPI Photography

Lawrenceville Coca-Cola Bottling Company

Corebridge Financial

Scholastic Images

Silver Sponsor:

MarshMcLennan Agency

Bronze Sponsor:

The Kroger Co.