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On Thursday, the Troup County School System announced the school-level teachers of the year.

The excellent teachers were informed that they were named their school’s Teacher of the Year and will be nominees for the overall district-level Teacher of the Year for 2024-2025

“Please join all of us in congratulating these excellent TCSS teachers for receiving this prestigious recognition from their peers and school communities. “Congratulations to them all,” said TCSS Superintendent Dr. Brian Shumate.

Each year, the TOTY program recognizes teachers who display excellence and high standards for the teaching profession. Each elementary school, HOPE Academy, Troup County Career Center, and THINC College & Career Academy designate one teacher for the honor. Middle (CMS, GNMS, LCMS) and high schools (CHS, LHS, THS) select two teachers each.

These teachers will move to the next portion of the nomination process by completing essays for submission to compete for the system-level TOTY. During the application process, they must describe their professional preparation and experience and answer questions about their teaching philosophy and practical applications. Ten anonymous judges from the school system, community, and Partners in Education will be used to participate in a blind evaluation of their written applications.

Three system finalists will be named from the nominees – one representing elementary, middle, and high school levels. The top three candidates are then judged by education professionals who do not reside in Troup County. They will observe classroom instruction, conduct interviews, and review the finalist’s written applications.

From the top three finalists, one teacher will be named Troup’s Teacher of the Year during a reception in March 2024.

The current TCSS Teacher of the Year, Dr. Zelda Kitt from The Hope Academy, is vying for the state-level TOTY, which will be announced in May.

This year’s school-level Teachers of the Year include:

4 Darla Clark (Berta Weathersbee Elementary)

4 Jennifer Winkles (Callaway Elementary)

4 Nekita Leonard (Clearview Elementary)

4 Quinshada Simpson (Ethel W. Kight Elementary)

4 Sharon Mines (Franklin Forest Elementary)

4 Audrey McCray (Hillcrest Elementary)

4 Abbie Anderson (Hogansville Elementary)

4 Laura Terrell (Hollis Hand Elementary)

4 Mary Beth Scott (Long Cane Elementary)

4Ashley Tittle (Rosemont Elementary)

4 Katrina Stargell-Goss (West Point Elementary)

4 LaTasha Knight (Callaway Middle)

4 Christine Corley (Callaway Middle)

4 Chontia Sheffield (Gardner Newman Middle)

4 Tejay Dowden (Gardner Newman Middle)

4 Paige Murphy (Long Cane Middle)

4 Trina Pruitt (Long Cane Middle)

4 Donna Henderson (Callaway High)

4Kyle Veatch (Callaway High)

4 Felicia Moneypenny (LaGrange High)

4 Efren Munoz Medina (LaGrange High)

4 Jennifer Ward (Troup High)

4 Michael Hays (Troup High)

4 Stephanie Hernandez (The HOPE Academy)

4 Melissa Hicks (THINC College & Career Academy)

4 Francee Mitchell (Troup County Career Center)