Georgia Teacher of the Year 2024 Finalists Announced

By Ramona Mills

Photos courtesy of the Georgia Department of Education

Each spring, the Georgia Department of Education announces 10 Teacher of the Year state finalists. Selected from district Teacher of the Year winners from throughout the state, the finalists will meet with a panel of judges for formal interviews and speeches prior to the 2024 Georgia Teacher of the Year (GaTOTY) selection in June.

State winners serve one-year terms as ambassadors for the teaching profession. The present GaTOTY, PAGE member Michael Kobito, will serve through June 30, 2023. The 2024 program winner will serve July 1, 2023, through June 30, 2024.

The 2024 GaTOTY finalists are:

Veena Black, DeKalb County Schools education from Auburn University, and is enrolled in the Doctor of Philosophy in career and technical education program at Auburn University. Brock serves as the Central Middle School FFA Chapter Advisor, where he trains 19 different competitive teams and assists members in developing student-led agricultural projects. His students have won numerous area and state awards.

Black is a second-grade teacher and STEM lead at Briarlake Elementary.

Black models her passion for learning in her classroom by empowering students to be proud of their education and accomplishments. After originally pursuing an engineering degree, she became a teacher. Black then attended Emory University and received her Masters of Divinity. In her last year of seminary, inspired by child advocacy classes, she chose to return to her first love: teaching. Black recently received the 2023 Don Cargill STEM 8 Scholar Award for integrating effective STEM education into the classroom.

Lucas

Brock is an agricultural educator at Central Middle School. He believes that assisting students in discovering their passions and celebrating their accomplishments can have lasting impacts on their development. He holds a Bachelor of Science in agriculture and environmental education and a Master of Science in agriculture and environmental education from the University of Georgia, a Specialist in agriscience

Cashon is a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) teacher at North Tattnall Middle School. Cashon, a member of PAGE, believes in differentiating lessons to enable all students to learn. She earned her Bachelor of Science in education with an emphasis in technology education, and a Master of Education in Teaching and Learning with an emphasis in engineering and technology education, from Georgia Southern University. She is pursuing a Doctorate of Education in curriculum studies, focusing on engineering and technology edu- cation. In 2020, she received the Georgia STEM Scholar Award for her hard work integrating effective STEM education in the classroom.

Ellis is an eighth-grade social studies teacher at Veterans Memorial Middle School. History has always been Mrs. Ellis’s passion, and she knew from a young age that she was destined to become a teacher. After graduating from college, she was hired in the school district she attended as a student – teaching alongside many of the same educators who once impacted her. Mrs. Ellis received her Bachelor of Arts in history and secondary education as well as her Master of Education in secondary social sciences from Columbus State University. In 2017, she was named a Georgia Economics Teacher of the Year by the Georgia Council on Economic Education.

Jenkins is an Early Intervention Program (EIP) teacher at Stark Elementary. Jenkins, a PAGE member, has more than 20 years experience in the classroom and currently works with kindergarten, second, third, and fifth-grade students helping them enhance their math, reading, and life skills. She also works with teachers in all grade levels to support them and helps mentor new teachers. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from Mercer University, a Master’s degree in integrating technology from Walden University, and a Specialist’s degree in technology management and administration from Nova Southeastern.

Laura

Lambert is an AP biology and biotechnology teacher at Newton College and Career Academy where her primary focus is on creating project-based learning experiences that enable her students to connect classroom learning with real-world application. Professionally, she is most proud of the industry relationships she has been able to build for her students, the expansion of the STEM program in which she teaches, and the capstone research projects her students have produced. A member of PAGE, Lambert holds a Bachelor of Science in neuroscience from Georgia State University and a Master of Arts in teaching from Piedmont University.

Jennifer

Lean is a third-grade teacher at Park Elementary. She received her Reading

Specialist from Auburn University, Master of Education in early childhood from Valdosta State University, Bachelor of Science from Berry College, and an Associate of Arts from Young Harris College. She is certified as an Early Childhood Teacher, Reading Specialist, and holds a Gifted Endorsement. She has taught grades K-5 in a variety of settings throughout Georgia. Lean, a PAGE member, shares that her teaching is framed by a desire to help students think creatively, carefully, and critically. She is interested in issues such as teacher retention, school culture, maximizing learning opportunities, classroom culture, STEAM, and all things related to literacy.

Nearhoof is an art teacher at McAllister Elementary. A member of PAGE, Nearhoof teaches with the goal of developing learners who think like artists – creative learners who ask questions and generate ideas. She strives to make art fun, inviting, and achievable for all. Nearhoof holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts with teacher’s certification from Edinboro University in Pennsylvania and a Master of Arts degree from Nova Southeastern University. She is a leadership team member and chair of the Fine Arts Night Committee.

Ready to lead with impact? Our new online program offers Tier I certification for working education professionals. In just three semesters or less, you will gain leadership abilities, change-management skills, and deep organizational knowledge to lead boldly in diverse roles.

Stewart is a seventh-grade language arts teacher and gifted coordinator at Chattanooga Valley Elementary. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in English education from Lee University and a Master of Education in educational leadership from Kennesaw State University where she is currently enrolled in the Doctorate of Education in teacher leadership program. In 2012, she was one of 12 teachers chosen to participate in the University of Iowa’s Belin-Blank Fellowship program in gifted education.

Christy

Todd is a music technology teacher at Rising Starr Middle School. A PAGE member, she strives to enable all learners to find their creative superpowers. She founded Fayette County Public Schools’ Community for Creativity (CFC) initiative. As a CFC teacher, she facilitates the program at Rising Starr where she teaches classes and supports schoolwide creation of songs, podcasts, videos, audiobooks, and more, which are then released through the school’s label, Hall Pass Entertainment. Before teaching, Todd worked in nonprofit consulting and business development. She received a Bachelor of Music Education from Shorter College and a Master of Music Education from Florida State University.