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LaGrange, Ga. October 17, 2024 – Today, 26 Troup County School System (TCSS)
teachers received the excellent news that they were named their 2024-2025
school-level Teacher of the Year and will be nominees for the district-level 2025-2026
Teacher of the Year.

“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 Rachel B. Hazel, Superintendent.

The school-level TOTY winners and nominees from each school are:

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Taveta Caldwell-Debrow (Berta Weathersbee Elementary)
Arlexia Jennings (Callaway Elementary)
Kristen LaGree (Clearview Elementary)
Larry Murdock (Ethel Kight Elementary)
Jill Hembree (Franklin Forest Elementary)
Kanada McGill (Hillcrest Elementary)
Hollie Palmer (Hogansville Elementary)
Alyese Cross (Hollis Hand Elementary)
Kathey Sandiford (Long Cane Elementary)
Laurie Hester (Rosemont Elementary)
Grayson Morrison (West Point Elementary)

MIDDLE SCHOOL
Brooke Jackson (Callaway Middle)
Deneshia Norman (Callaway Middle)
Marilyn Huberdeau (Gardner Newman Middle)
Jessica Mobley (Gardner Newman Middle)
Melinda Golden (Long Cane Middle)
Jodi Vaughn (Long Cane Middle)

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HIGH SCHOOL
Serenity Graham (Callaway High)
Laura Banks (Callaway High)
Rebecca Davis (LaGrange High)
Aidan Blackwell (LaGrange High)
Tiffany Graham (Troup High)
Laura Willimon (Troup High)
Tishana Hines The (Hope Academy)
Frederick Neubert (THINC College & Career Academy)
Courtney Freels (Troup County Career Center)

Each year, this 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 now move on 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.

Finally, one of the top three finalists will be named the 2025-2026 Troup County School
System (TCSS) Teacher of the Year during an afternoon reception in March 2025.
Quinshada Simpson from Ethel Kight Elementary is the current TCSS Teacher of the
Year. She is vying for the state-level honor, which will be announced in May.