The Clarke County School District is pleased to announce the 2026-27 Teacher of the Year and Support Professional of the Year for each of its schools and academic program campuses that had eligible candidates according to the district’s selection criteria. CCSD received nearly 600 award nominations from staff, students, and families across the district, and winners were voted on by their school’s faculty and staff.
From this group, a district-wide Teacher of the Year and Support Professional of the Year will be selected and announced on October 22 at CCSD’s annual Teacher of the Year and Support Professional of the Year awards banquet. The district Teacher of the Year will then advance to compete at the state level.
CCSD is once again partnering with the Foundation for Excellence in Public Education in Clarke County (FFE) to honor each school’s winners. The FFE will also present its annual Mae M. Whatley Teacher of the Year and Janis J. Stephens Support Professional of the Year awards to the district winners. CCSD is also pleased to announce Georgia United Credit Union as the presenting sponsor for this year’s Teacher of the Year program and Robins Federal Credit Union as the presenting sponsor for the Support Professional of the Year program.
“This distinguished group of teachers and support professionals represent the very best of CCSD,” said Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Scott. “I appreciate the hard work and dedication of each of these individuals as they serve our mission every day in support of empowering all students to fulfill their potential, and look forward to celebrating them on October 22 and throughout the year.”
All school-level winners listed below will be featured on CCSD’s Facebook and Instagram pages over the next several weeks, leading up to the announcement of the three district Teacher of the Year finalists in early October. Each finalist will be further spotlighted on social media in advance of the Oct. 22 awards banquet and winner announcements.
School-level Teachers of the Year
Barnett Shoals Elementary School - Kierra Johnson-Rambeau, third-grade gifted
Barrow Elementary School - Abby Brink, second grade
Bettye H. Holston Elementary School - Shuana Sims, first grade
Cleveland Road Elementary School - Ashley Lankford, K-5 COMPASS
Fowler Drive Elementary School - Deidra Bulger, Kindergarten
Gaines Elementary School - Kenneth Hobbs, Special Education
Howard B. Stroud Elementary School - Loleeta Linston-Jones, EIP
Johnnie Lay Burks Elementary School - Jessica Ellett, first grade
Judia Jackson Harris Elementary School - Kirsten Eaton, first grade
Oglethorpe Avenue Elementary School - Jailenne Parrott, Pre-K
Timothy Road Elementary School - Mary Seger, Pre-K
Whit Davis Elementary School - Kayla Jones, fourth grade
Whitehead Road Elementary School - Cindy Alexander, fourth-grade gifted
Winterville Elementary School - Jamie Strickland, fifth grade
Burney-Harris-Lyons Middle School - Matthew Rubenstein, orchestra
Clarke Middle School - Whitney Waller, eighth-grade math
Coile Middle School - LaTroyia Barber, sixth-grade special education math
Hilsman Middle School - Janaisha Cooper, sixth-grade special education science
Cedar Shoals High School - William "Montu" Miller, social studies
Clarke Central High School - Sophia Campbell, science
Athens Community Career Academy - Julie Fiamingo, math
Office of Early Learning - Chaitra Curry, Pre-K, Early Learning Center West
School-level Support Professionals of the Year
Barnett Shoals Elementary School - Tamera Stephens, kindergarten paraprofessional
Barrow Elementary School - Katherine Bynum, kindergarten paraprofessional
Bettye H. Holston Elementary School - Lashondria Harper, special education paraprofessional
Cleveland Road Elementary School - Cappi Williams, instructional coach
Fowler Drive Elementary School - Anahi Aguilar, kindergarten paraprofessional
Gaines Elementary School - Tangi Billups, behavior interventionist
Howard B. Stroud Elementary School - Tamela Jones, kindergarten paraprofessional
Johnnie Lay Burks Elementary School - Megina Davenport, kindergarten paraprofessional
Judia Jackson Harris Elementary School - Mayra Mondragon, school receptionist
Oglethorpe Avenue Elementary School - Erica Taylor, custodian
Timothy Road Elementary School - Keaundra Jones, special education paraprofessional
Whit Davis Elementary School - Meletha Wymbs, kindergarten paraprofessional
Whitehead Road Elementary School - Jasmine Howard, kindergarten paraprofessional
Winterville Elementary School - Nikki Dake, school nutrition manager
Burney-Harris-Lyons Middle School - Cortney Grant, special education team leader
Clarke Middle School - Kathryn Brown, instructional coach
Coile Middle School - Fran-Cot Freeman, special education paraprofessional
Hilsman Middle School - Cerdrina Derricotte, special education paraprofessional
Cedar Shoals High School - Leigh Barnes, bookkeeper
Clarke Central High School - Ryan Johnson, special education team leader
Athens Community Career Academy - Ariel Gordon, counselor
Office of Early Learning - Lamarana Balde, safety risk manager, Early Learning Center East