Celebrating the Greatness of Teachers at the CFP National Championship
The College Football Playoff (CFP) Foundation came together with the Atlanta Football Host Committee, Georgia Teachers Initiative, and thousands of educators to celebrate teachers around the 2025 CFP National Championship on January 20. It was a week of surprises, fun, and impact, with a myriad of events that recognized teachers for the fantastic work they do for their students. Utilizing the grand stage of college football, the CFP Foundation once again showed the importance of teachers, both in Georgia and across the nation. Take a look at several of the highlights for teachers that made up Championship Week in Atlanta, one that will be remembered for a long time.
SURPRISE!: Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School sixth-grader Ashtyn C. Bynum served as the first host of the newly launched “King TV” during the school’s broadcast center unveiling during Champ Week. Bynum also received a $1,000 DonorsChoose card to give to her favorite teacher.
GEORGIA EARLY EDUCATION ALLIANCE FOR READY STUDENTS (GEEARS) SCHOOL SURPRISES
The Atlanta Mayor’s Office, the CFP Foundation, the United Way, and the Atlanta Sports Council teamed up to provide $100K worth of bonuses to teachers across Atlanta who have been teaching for at least 10 years. Twenty local teachers were surprised, all recognized for their commitment and dedication to teaching.
I’m just excited. It’s truly an honor to receive this award, so thank you for the recognition.
CATHY SMOTHERS
Teacher Cathy Smothers was surprised with her class at YMCA Chattahoochee Head Start Academy. “I’m just excited. It’s truly an honor to receive this award, so thank you for the recognition,” she said. She said she’s been teaching for 21 years and wouldn’t want to be doing anything else. “It’s a challenge, but I love it,” Smothers said.
YMCA CHATTAHOOCHEE HEAD START ACADEMY
TAPP MIDDLE SCHOOL MEDIA CENTER MAKEOVER
The 2024-2025 Legacy Funding between the CFP Foundation and the Atlanta Host Committee included school makeovers across Georgia. The first makeover unveiled was the media center at the Tapp Middle School in Powder Springs, Georgia. “Part of our mission at Tapp is collaboration, and I say it all the time,” said Principal Alvin Thomas. “The Media Center is the hub of our collaboration, and it is so awesome to see what has been done here. This is for the students first and foremost, and I can’t wait to see what they’ll do with this space going forward.”
CORETTA SCOTT KING YOUNG WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP ACADEMY SURPRISE
Part of the CFP Foundation’s MLK impact footprint involved giving books written by the King family to every student at Coretta Scott King Young Women’s Leadership Academy, with a special surprise for teacher Ms. Audrey Potters, who received a DonorsChoose gift card.
MLK MIDDLE SCHOOL MAKEOVER REVEAL
On Friday, January 17, the CFP Foundation unveiled a $50K broadcast center at Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School. The ribbon cutting ceremony and celebration featured the first King TV broadcast led by middle school student Ashton Bynum. In a fun talk show format, she interviewed College Football Playoff Executive Director Rich Clark, Atlanta Sports Council President Dan Corso as well as other representatives. In addition to the interviews, surprises included a special announcement from AT&T and Extra Yard for Teachers for Compudopt to provide $175K in donated devices and connectivity to the students and families of MLK Middle School and throughout Atlanta Public Schools. Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School Principal Kimberly Gibbs was surprised with a $1,000 gift card from School Specialty, while physical education teacher Tarana Ramey received a $1,000 Donors Choose gift card.
Coretta Scott King Young Women’s Leadership Academy students were appreciative of new books with a special connection.
ATL&CO GEORGIA TEACHERS INITIATIVE
LIVE 30-MINUTE SPECIAL
The daily show ATL&Co on 11Alive in Atlanta dedicated coverage over Championship Weekend, highlighting the story behind the CFP Foundation and Atlanta Football Host Committee and the over $3 million in investments both made as part of the Georgia Teachers Initiative. The show hosted teachers and representatives that have been involved with the initiative that has engaged over 40,000 educators in all 159 Georgia counties since its launch in May of 2024.
WATCH GEORGIA TEACHERS SEGMENT
WATCH HBCU s SEGMENT
FRIDAY NIGHT
FEVER
COLLEGE FOOTBALL PLAYOFF FOUNDATION WELCOME PARTY
The evening celebrated all the partners and local educators that have worked alongside the CFP Foundation this past year in Georgia and across the nation. The evening featured dancing, disco and drinks at the Skylounge at the Glenn Hotel.
FULL SHOW: Just under 4,000 educators experienced the Extra Yard for Teachers Summit. Watch it in its entirety here.
EXTRA YARD FOR TEACHERS SUMMIT
More than 800 local teachers (in-person) and over 3,000 more nationwide (virtually) came together for two hours of Ted Talkstyle speeches, focused on encouragement and inspiration, and an array of music performances at the Rialto Theater at Georgia State University. Speakers included education professionals, ESPN talent, and special guests like Jess Sims and Coy Boyles.
Teachers in attendance enjoyed the program as well as a full reception complete with food, drink, prizes and an entire bag of goodies to take home.
The 2025 Extra Yard for Teachers Summit was sponsored by AT&T, Understood, Dr Pepper and Modelo.
PLAYOFF
FAN CENTRAL EXTRA YARD FOR TEACHERS ACTIVATION
The CFP Foundation and ESPN honored educators at Playoff Fan Central at the Georgia World Congress Center encouraging fans to take a photo, sign the inspiration wall with a thank you note or inspirational quote learned from a teacher or coach, and check out mascot ACE and the National Teacher of the Year at the Extra Yard for Teachers hologram! Touchdown for Teachers rally towels were given away for game day.
DAY OF SERVICE AT HOPE HILL ELEMENTARY
On the morning of Martin Luther King Day, the CFP Foundation and the CFP provided STEM kits to students at Hope Hill Elementary in Atlanta, assembled by CFP staff, teachers, and special guests. The CFP Foundation also had a surprise for the roughly 200 volunteers and faculty on site: a check for $50,000 to help the school remodel its media center. “This is a bigger scale than what we’re used to,“ said Principal Keisha Knight. “The fact that this is an MLK day of service and where we’re located, this has been simply awesome.”
STEM SERVICE: It was a rewarding day for all involved at Hope Hill Elementary.
YOU!
TOUCHDOWN FOR TEACHERS
That’s a wrap for the 2024-25 College Football Season. BIG THANKS to ESPN, Bowl Season and all of the supporters who made this 2nd annual #TouchdownForTeachers initiative possible. More than 1,000 teachers were supported this year by every touchdown scored during Bowl Season.
ESPN LOVE.F Ú TBOL FIELD REVEAL
Friday of Championship Weekend saw the official opening of a newly renovated flag football field at the John Hope Envision Center. ESPN, the CFP Foundation, and love.fútbol joined forces to give back to the Atlanta community. The grand opening showcased the power of sports to transform lives and uplift communities. The renovation creates more than a place to play — it establishes a safe haven for thousands of Atlanta residents, fostering dreams, building connections, and empowering the next generation. The event included a ribbon cutting ceremony and flag football games following the ceremony.
What I learned about Atlanta is that you have to listen to the community about what they need, and not what you want them to have.
KEVIN MARTINEZ
Kevin Martinez, Vice President, Corporate Citizenship ESPN said, “It’s important that this field is here because if you look where we are, it’s in the center of where it needs to be. We just don’t build it, we program it, and we fund it. “This is just the beginning of this community space. What I learned about Atlanta is that you have to listen to the community about what they need, and not what you want them to have.”
VICE PRESIDENT, CORPORATE CITIZENSHIP ESPN
TEACHER OF THE YEAR EXPERIENCE PRESENTED BY ECKRICH
A long standing tradition, the State Teachers of the Year from across the United States were flown into Atlanta as part of the Teacher of the Year Experience presented by Eckrich. As part of the experience, educators attended the Summit, the Taste of the Championship, the Trophy Trot and had the opportunity to throw for $1K in classroom resources at Playoff Fan Central courtesy of Eckrich. ESPN’s Marty Smith was on hand to encourage the teachers and celebrate with 14 of them who made a successful throw. Marty also spent some time warming up to participate in Eckrich’s $1Million Throw Challenge on Game Day.
GEORGIA IMPACT
By The Numbers
GEORGIA IMPACT BY THE NUMBERS
EXTRA YARD MEDIA CENTER MAKEOVERS 13 COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT
EXTRA YARD FOR TEACHERS SUMMIT 3,000 REGISTERED
Funded teacher projects in all Georgia counties 159 in DonorsChoose funding including 200k to HBCU graduates that are teachers 500K tickets distributed to teachers for Georgia area sports and entertainment events 1,500 TICKET with Learn for Life RETAIN program to improve retention rates 50K INVESTED
Provided classroom resources, technology and access to sports support for each campus in MLK footprint including a new Soccer Field at John Hope Community Center
Innovation grants to 60 teachers 100K AWARDED Built new educator platform engaged teachers 40K TEACHER SPOTLIGHT RECOGNITIONS 52
Over half a million in DonorsChoose funding including to HBCU graduates that are teachers
COMMUNITY SUPPORT
Funded the launch of GOODR GROCERY STORE to help provide free groceries to families within the school community
20 EARLY CHILDHOOD
$100,000 educators awarded
for their long-term commitment to education through PAACT and in partnership with the United Way
