Georgia Department of Education

Four Georgia class of 2024 students have been recognized as U.S. Presidential Scholars, a prestigious honor for the nation’s most distinguished graduating high school seniors.

Han Shaun Lee of Johns Creek High School of Fulton County Schools, Gordon E. Lichtstein of Decatur High School of City Schools of Decatur, Vineeth Sendilraj of Lambert High School of Forsyth County Schools, and Joanna Yian Xiao of Richmond Hill High School of Bryan County Schools received the recognition. Lee and Sendilraj were recognized as U.S. Presidential Scholars in Career and Technical Education and are among just 20 CTE Presidential Scholars recognized nationally in 2024.

“I am incredibly proud of Han, Gordon, Vineeth, and Joanna for their outstanding achievements,” State School Superintendent Richard Woods said. “They have demonstrated exceptional dedication and excellence in their academic and personal pursuits, representing the very best of Georgia. I look forward to seeing the future successes of these remarkable students and wish them the best in their endeavors.”

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Believe in your potential and take a bold step toward your future. Apply for the U.S. Senate Youth Program today! Learn more at https://url.gadoe.org/4psif.

Did you know the Tybee Island Lighthouse was built in 1736 and stands as one of the oldest lighthouses in the U.S.? Celebrate its rich history with us this National Lighthouse Day! 🌊⛴⛱

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Welcome back to school, Georgia students and teachers! 🎉 Let’s make the 2024-2025 school year our best yet, filled with learning, growth, and new beginnings.

What’s your favorite summer learning activity for kids? Share your ideas with us! 📚☀️

A heartfelt thank you to all the parents who work tirelessly to support their children’s education. You are our heroes! Happy Parents' Day!🌟📚

Georgia students showed continued improvement on the 2023-24 Georgia Milestones assessments – scores increased or held steady on 10 of 13 assessments in ELA, science, and social studies.

“I am proud of Georgia’s students and educators for their continued hard work, which has led to consistent improvements in student performance over the last several years,” State School Superintendent Richard Woods said. “As a state, we have invested in academic recovery and the supports districts need to get all students on track for successful futures. There is certainly still work to be done, but I am confident we are on the right path.”

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Join us in spreading the word about summer resources, including meal programs! Share this post to help ensure no child goes hungry this summer. 🍏📢

What are your favorite summer outdoor activities to do with your family? Share your fun ideas!🌳⚽🌞🌻

Georgia teachers, check out this opportunity from the Georgia Teachers Initiative!

Hey Georgia teachers! 👋We're back with another ticket giveaway - the first 100 teachers to claim this exclusive back-to-school offer will receive a FREE PAIR of tickets to watch the Braves vs. the Reds at Truist Park on Wednesday, July 24! 🎉⚾

And be sure to join us before the game for a back-to-school brunch where you'll receive a GTI t-shirt, the opportunity to win gift certificates for classroom resources and more!

Click the link to claim your tickets: https://bit.ly/4d6fivV

Atlanta Sports Council Extra Yard for Teachers College Football Playoff Georgia Foundation for Public Education

What creative projects have your kids been working on this summer? We’d love to see their masterpieces! 🎨🖌️

Congratulations, Amanda Smith!

Black Mills Elementary School Assistant Principal Amanda Smith was named the Georgia 2024 National Distinguished Assistant Principal by the Georgia Association of Elementary School Principals (GAESP).

Smith, nominated for this recognition by her peers, has demonstrated exceptional leadership and set high standards for students, colleagues, parents, and the community.

Congratulations, Dr. Brittney Mobley!

Francis Meeks Elementary School Principal Dr. Brittney Mobley was named the Georgia 2024 National Distinguished Principal by the Georgia Association of Elementary School Principals (GAESP).

Teachers, staff, and the community at Francis Meeks Elementary School praised Dr. Mobley as “a consummate professional, dynamic leader, and effective communicator” and for spending time in the classrooms and at school events to make her presence known to students, staff, and parents.

Congratulations, Holly Witcher, 2025 Georgia Teacher of the Year! We look forward to following your journey as you share your message: "You matter!"

Good morning Facebook! My name is Holly Witcher and Friday I began the onboarding process as your 2025 Georgia Teacher of the Year. Typing that is so surreal! I am so thankful for the amazing people who work tirelessly behind the scenes to make sure I have all the tools needed to elevate teachers’ voices across the state. I am looking forward to learning and growing as I travel the state and share my message, "You matter."

I grew up in Rockdale County and began my teaching career there with many of the teachers who taught me in elementary school. You know who you are! They are the reason I wanted to become a teacher and it was a true privilege to work alongside them for so many years. While in Rockdale I taught 1st grade, and then taught both accelerated math and the early intervention program for 3rd – 5th grade.

In 2009 I moved into online learning and began teaching Special Education with Georgia Cyber Academy. While there I both taught and worked as an administrator in many of the departments that fell under the Federal Programs window. This job provided me an opportunity to dig deep and learn how to best serve a wide variety of disabilities. I became proficient in federal law and made it my mission to learn how to teach students with dyslexia. With the new dyslexia law taking effect this year, I am thankful to have poured so much into learning about this early on!

In 2015 my family moved to White County where my two sons began going to school. I loved having the opportunity to volunteer and see the amazing things that were going on in their classrooms. So in 2019 when a position opened up to teach Special Education at their school, I made the move back into a brick and mortar classroom. Most recently, I taught K-2 self-contained Special Education at Tesnatee Gap Elementary school. Here I have the opportunity to partner with teachers and families to bring awareness to different disabilities and celebrate the huge developmental milestones they hit throughout the year. In our class we dream big and celebrate big. I love watching students bust through barriers they’ve been told they would never meet. I am convinced I have the best job in the state!

That’s what I want to bring to you all during my time as Georgia Teacher of the Year. I want to celebrate the amazing things that teachers are doing across the state of Georgia. You matter. You bring a unique viewpoint to the classroom that no one else can bring. While you are getting ready to go back in a few weeks, think about your passions outside of the classroom. How can you bring them into your class this year?

I can’t wrap up this introductory post without giving a heartfelt thank you to 2024 TOTY Christy Todd for her selfless guidance through this process. She may have written her "LAST POST," but I have no doubt that she is going to continue to do great things. She blazed a trail building connections across the state and has provided an amazing model for how leading with grace should look. Thank you for a job well done!

I am looking forward to meeting many of you across the state and helping to elevate your voices. If you are interested in having me come speak with your organization, please fill out the event request form found on the GA Teacher of the Year page: https://www.gadoe.org/External-Affairs-and-Policy/Excellence-Recognition/Pages/Georgia-Teacher-of-the-Year-Program.aspx I’ll be checking in frequently here to share all of the amazing things you are doing. Let’s go!

Thank you, 2024 Georgia Teacher of the Year Christy Todd, for representing our great state with honor and distinction! We know you will continue to be the ultimate influencer and help students find their creative superpower!

The Influence of a Teacher As my year serving as the 2024 Georgia Teacher of the Year comes to a close, it's hard not to get a little misty eyed when I reflect on all that's happened. I've flown in a fighter jet with the Blue Angels, sat across f...

No child should go hungry during the summer. Find free meal programs in your area to ensure students stay nourished and healthy. 🍎

Which educational apps 📱 have been a hit in your household this summer? Share your favorites! 🎓

Georgia teachers, we know you continue working even during summer break, so we wanted to share the Teacher Grants for Innovation opportunity with you! In partnership with the Georgia Teachers Initiative, the Georgia Foundation for Public Education has a round of innovation grants that closes on July 15! Grants between $500 and $2500 will be awarded to Georgia public school teachers to help bring your creative ideas to life. Winners of this round will be announced in early August. Apply Now: https://bit.ly/4apOnJQ

Hey Teachers 👋 We hope your summer break is going well and we interrupt this school-free time to remind you about Teacher Grants for Innovation! In partnership with Georgia Teachers Initiative, we have a round of innovation grants that closes on July 15! Grants between $500 and $2500 will be awarded to Georgia public school teachers to help bring your creative ideas to life. Winners of this round will be announced in early August. Apply Now: https://bit.ly/4apOnJQ

Parents, we’ve got you covered with resources to support your child’s learning this summer. Check out www.georgiasummer.org for tips and activities for a productive break! 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦📖