Clarke Central High School Multi-Classroom Leader Lawanna Knight, who was named the school’s Support Professional of the Year, sits in the CCHS Courtyard on Aug. 26. CCHS Family Engagement Specialist Christian Barner was the CCHS 2024 SPOTY, and later went on to win CCSD SPOTY. “It feels good (to win). Everybody in the building spends a lot of time working, (and) there’s a lot of things that go unrecognized. So, it feels good, because I’m like, ‘Oh, I get recognized for these things that I’m working on,” Barner said. Photo by Maypop Wren
The CCSD Teacher and Support Professional of the Year annual awards banquet will be held on Oct. 23, where the district-wide TOTY and SPOTY will be named.
Forty six school personnel within the Clarke County School District were named Teachers and Support Professionals of the Year on Sept. 9.
The CCSD, in partnership with the non-profit Foundation for Excellence in Public Education, will announce the district-wide TOTY and SPOTY on Oct. 23 at the TOTY and SPOTY annual awards banquet. The ceremony, hosted by Epting Events, will take place at 1055 Barber St. from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
“I think it’s important for people in the community to see what we do (at school). We don’t just teach our (students), we counsel them, we nurture them (and) we support them in outside activities, as well as (in school),” CCHS special education department teacher Juanita Nash, the CCHS 2025 TOTY, said.
An Oct. 8 Clarke County School District press release announcing the finalists for the 2025-26 Teacher of the Year is shown. PDF courtesy of the CCSD
CCHS Multi-Classroom Leader Lawanna Knight, who was named the CCHS 2025 SPOTY, was teaching with science department teacher Roenessa Witcher in Room 386 when she learned of her win.
“When I received the call to (determine) my location, I assumed I was needed to facilitate a Restorative Circle. I was pleasantly surprised and very appreciative that all (CCHS) administrators were there to celebrate and congratulate me,” Knight said.
“When I received the call to (determine) my location, I assumed I was needed to facilitate a Restorative Circle. I was pleasantly surprised and very appreciative that all (CCHS) administrators were there to celebrate and congratulate me,”
— Lawanna Knight,
CCHS 2025 SPOTY and Multi-Classroom Leader
Also nominated for the competition at the district level were several CCHS alumni, including Class of 1992 alumna LaVerne Fortson, a Winterville Elementary School special education department teacher, who is the school’s 2025 TOTY.
“This (nomination) is special because it allows me to celebrate myself, which I do not do very often. As I prepare (for the district-wide competition), I remind myself to live in and enjoy the moment because I have a lot to be proud of,” Fortson said.
Clarke Central High School special education department teacher Stacey Scott, the 2025 Athens Community Career Academy TOTY, stands in the CCHS Competition Gym on Aug. 23. Clarke County School District Executive Director of Public Relations and Communications Cyndee Moore helped coordinate the district-wide TOTY and SPOTY competition in 2024. “(The judges) look for people who exemplify what we think good community citizens for (the CCSD) are: that they love what they do, they are great with students, they put student interests (and the county’s mission) at the center of what they do and they look for ways to collaborate and build on the experience for students and staff alike,” Moore said. Photo by Iliana Tejada
According to Executive Director of Public Relations and Communications Cyndee Moore, who oversees the competition, there is an application that all nominees must have completed to be considered for it. These responses are what the appointment of CCSD SPOTY is based on, and have also yielded three finalists for CCSD TOTY.
“(Now), we will arrange classroom observations. (The judges) will go around and observe each of the final three (candidates) in their classroom doing a lesson with the students. They will take notes, submit their forms and the person who has the highest score on those rubrics will be the (CCSD TOTY),” Moore said.
Special education department teacher Stacey Scott is the 2025 Athens Community Career Academy TOTY and is excited for the TOTY and SPOTY annual awards banquet.
“I’m mostly looking forward to celebrating with my family,” Scott said. “Both my older sister and mother have been named TOTY in past years (and) it’s an honor to follow in their footsteps.”
