3 days ago
Houston County teacher named runner-up for Georgia Teacher of the Year
Houston County teacher Jade Thomas has been named the runner-up for Georgia's Teacher of the Year award, the Georgia Department of Education announced Friday.
Thomas, a social studies and English teacher at Lake Joy Elementary, is a former active-duty Marine who became the cofounder of the school's Military Kids Club. She has a Bachelor of Arts in early childhood and childhood education from Niagara University, a Master of Education in curriculum and instruction for elementary education from Liberty University, and a Specialist in Education with an endorsement in English as a second or other language from Mercer University.
'She prioritizes creating a classroom environment where students are welcomed, loved, and fully engaged in learning every day,' the Georgia Department of Education said in a news release.
Thomas finished as the runner-up to Rachel Kinsaul, an agricultural science teacher at Morgan County High School. The winner and runner-up were announced Friday night by state school Superintendent Richard Woods at a banquet held at Lanier Islands to celebrate all Teachers of the Year across Georgia's school districts.
Kinsaul aims to prepare her students to be productive community members, the Georgia Department of Education said. As an agricultural educator, she seeks to help her students find the best versions of themselves by becoming leaders through her agricultural education, the state department of education said.
'Rachel Kinsaul opens up possibilities for her students every day – in agriculture and beyond,' Woods said in a news release. 'She is a standout example of the hands-on learning opportunities that Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education opens up and the life-changing power of an excellent teacher in the classroom. I know she will be an incredible advocate for public education in the state of Georgia and will shine a light on the rich opportunities our K-12 schools provide.'
Before being named a finalist and the runner-up for state Teacher of the Year, Thomas was featured in a Disney-produced documentary that aired Christmas morning on ABC and Disney+. She was honored for her dedication to education and support for military families — especially through the Military Kids Club she co-founded. Thomas received a surprise trip to Walt Disney World.
Now that she's been named the runner-up for Teacher of the Year, she'll serve as an ex-officio member of the board of the Georgia Foundation for Public Education, which invests in schools and academics in the state.
In addition to Kinsaul and Thomas, eight other teachers were named finalists for Georgia Teacher of the Year:
Christie Akers, Northside High School, Muscogee County
Chuck Garner, Rockdale Magnet School, Rockdale County
Taylor Moody, Newton College and Career Academy, Newton County
Brandi Neal, McDonough High School, Henry County
Laura Ray, Berrien Elementary School, Berrien County
Jenny Ritchotte, Camden Middle School, Camden County
Beth Taylor, Varnell Elementary School, Whitfield County
Tracey Woodcock, Lee County High School Ninth Grade Campus, Lee County
