Newton County Schools and the Newton County Chamber of Commerce are pleased to announce the 2026-2027 school level teachers of the year. These teachers will now participate in the county program with the winner serving as the Newton County School System’s 2027 Teacher of the Year.
Over the summer, each of the nominees worked on their district Teacher of the Year essay packet, which required each teacher to answer several questions about their educational background, teaching philosophy, and style of teaching. On Tuesday, September 1, and Wednesday, September 2, each teacher will participate in a 20-minute interview to be conducted by a panel of volunteer judges.
Once scores from the essays and interviews are tallied, three finalists will be determined (the teachers with the three highest combined scores). On Wednesday, September 9, the Teacher of the Year selection committee will observe each of the three finalists teaching in his or her classroom setting. The teacher with the highest combined score on the essay, interview, and observation, will be announced as Newton County School’s 2027 Teacher of the Year during a special ceremony at Porter Performing Arts Center on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, at 5:30 p.m.
Newton County Schools would like to congratulate the school-level Teachers of the Year, as they are each worthy of this special honor. As such, all 23 Teachers of the Year will be recognized at the reception at Porter Performing Arts Center and presented with a commemorative plaque from the Coca-Cola Bottling Company. Each of the two runners-up will receive a crystal award from the Newton County Chamber of Commerce. The 2027 Newton County Teacher of the Year will receive a crystal award and check for $1,000 from the Chamber of Commerce. Longtime Teacher of the Year program supporter, Covington Ford, will also provide the winner with a free three-month car rental. Newton County Schools’ 2027 Teacher of the Year will represent the district in the Georgia Teacher of the Year program.
See below for a list of this year’s 2026-2027 School-Level Teachers of the Year:
2026-2027 School-Level Teachers of the Year
| SCHOOL |
|
TEACHER OF THE YEAR |
| East Newton Elementary |
|
Alexandra Allen |
| Fairview Elementary |
|
Cindy Ventura |
| Flint Hill Elementary |
|
Michelle Cole |
| Heard-Mixon Elementary |
|
Amber Kuvach |
| Live Oak Elementary |
|
Lloyd Craddock |
| Livingston Elementary |
|
Carla Wilkins |
| Mansfield Elementary |
|
Leah Johnson |
| Middle Ridge Elementary |
|
Adrienne Osgood |
| Newton County STEAM Academy |
|
Chermika Curry-Miller |
| Oak Hill Elementary |
|
Amy McCarter |
| Porterdale Elementary |
|
Jessica Bigham |
| Rocky Plains Elementary |
|
Marie Chery |
| South Salem Elementary |
|
Addye Loew |
| West Newton Elementary |
|
Cametrese Watkins |
| Clements Middle |
|
Gersinta Payne |
| Cousins Middle |
|
Miranda Colley |
| Indian Creek Middle |
|
Charnese Phillips |
| Liberty Middle |
|
Catrina Hilliard |
| Veterans Memorial Middle |
|
Chandra Black |
| Alcovy High |
|
James Stokes |
| Eastside High |
|
Rodrick Baker |
| Newton High |
|
Johnny Edwards |
| Newton College & Career Academy |
|
Beverly Stahl |
“Every day, our teachers have the opportunity to shape not only what students learn, but also how they see themselves and what they believe they can accomplish,” said Dr. Duke Bradley III, Superintendent of Newton County Schools. “Our 2026-2027 Teachers of the Year represent the high-quality teaching taking place across Newton County Schools, and I congratulate each of them on this well-deserved recognition.”
“Being selected as Teacher of the Year by your own school is a special honor because it reflects the respect and appreciation of the people who see your work every day,” said Abigail Coggin, Chair of the Newton County Board of Education. “These 23 educators give so much of themselves to their students and their school communities, and the Board is proud to celebrate them and the important work they do.”
Newton County’s Teacher of the Year program would not be possible without the support of our community. As a result, Newton County Schools and the Newton County Chamber of Commerce would like to extend special thanks to the Chamber Champions, sponsors of the 2027 Teacher of the Year program: Abbey Hospice, APCU, Archer Aviation, AT&T, B.D., Beaver Manufacturing, Bridgestone, City of Covington, Dual Deko, Edgar Law Firm, General Mills, Georgia Power, Ginn, GPTC, High Priority, Keenan Media, Longleaf Hospice, Main Street Land & Properties, Meta, Michelin, Microworks America, Newton County Board of Commissioners, Newton College & Career Academy, Newton County Industrial Development Authority, Newton County Water and Sewerage Authority, Nisshinbo, Northside, OHCO, Onyx MS, Oxford College of Emory, Piedmont Newton, Rivian, SCB Construction, Snapping Shoals, Sunbelt Builders, Synovus, Takeda, Thomas & Hutton, Truist, United Bank, and Vallant Bank.