Newton County Colleges and the Newton County Chamber of Commerce introduced the 2025-26 school-level Academics of the Yr on Tuesday. The chosen academics will now take part within the county program with the winner serving because the Newton County College System’s 2026 Trainer of the Yr.
“Nice instructing modifications lives,” stated Dr. Duke Bradley III, superintendent of Newton County Colleges. “This 12 months’s Academics of the Yr have demonstrated a stage of talent, care, and management that elevates our whole college system. We have fun every of them for the extraordinary position they play in getting ready our college students for achievement.”
Over the summer time, every of the nominees labored on their district Trainer of the Yr essay packet, which required every trainer to reply a number of questions on their instructional background, instructing philosophy and elegance of instructing. On Tuesday, Aug. 26, and Wednesday, Aug. 27, every trainer will take part in a 20-minute interview to be performed by a panel of volunteer judges.
As soon as scores from the essays and interviews are tallied, three finalists will likely be decided (the academics with the three highest mixed scores). On Tuesday, Sept. 3, the Trainer of the Yr choice committee will observe every of the three finalists instructing in his or her classroom setting. The trainer with the best mixed rating on the essay, interview and remark will likely be introduced as Newton County College’s 2026 Trainer of the Yr throughout a particular ceremony at Porter Performing Arts Middle on Wednesday, Sept. 17 at 5:30 p.m.
Newton County Colleges congratulated the school-level Academics of the Yr, stating that they’re every worthy of this particular honor.
All 23 Academics of the Yr will likely be acknowledged on the reception at Porter Performing Arts Middle and offered with a commemorative plaque from the Coca-Cola Bottling Firm.
“Every of those academics represents the very best of our faculties,” stated Abigail Coggin, Chair of the Newton County Board of Training. “They exemplify what it means to be a trainer in Newton County—dedicated, artistic, and centered on making an enduring influence. We’re proud to honor them for the distinction they make within the lives of scholars and households day by day.”
Every of the 2 runners-up will obtain a crystal award from the Newton County Chamber of Commerce. The 2026 Newton County Trainer of the Yr will obtain a crystal award and a test for $1,000 from the Chamber of Commerce. Covington Ford may even present the winner with a free three-month automobile rental.
Newton County Colleges’ 2026 Trainer of the Yr will characterize the district within the Georgia Trainer of the Yr program.
The 2025-26 school-level Academics of the Yr are:
- East Newton Elementary: Kili Nicholson
- Fairview Elementary: Laura Manley
- Flint Hill Elementary: Tiffany Wilkins
- Heard-Mixon Elementary: Margaret Allen
- Stay Oak Elementary: Tiffany Reed
- Livingston Elementary: Laurie Gates
- Mansfield Elementary: Jennifer Cawthon
- Center Ridge Elementary: Priyanka Chopra
- Newton County STEAM Academy: Beth Nolan
- Oak Hill Elementary: Stephanie Valdivia
- Porterdale Elementary: Sabrina Pruitt
- Rocky Plains Elementary: Jesse Daniel
- South Salem Elementary: Olivia Adams
- West Newton Elementary: Makayla Newell
- Clements Center: Charmine Mitchell-White
- Cousins Center: Tereska Gholston
- Indian Creek Center: Gregory W. Tanks
- Liberty Center: Brittany Carr
- Veterans Memorial Center: Kamara Whitening
- Alcovy Excessive: Dr. Quinita Morrow
- Eastside Excessive: Dr. Catrina Pollard
- Newton Excessive: Serrita Carr
- Newton Faculty & Profession Academy: Allison Yeomans
