Education
2021 Gwinnett County Teachers of the Year, including Paul Duke HS teacher for HS TOTY
During the annual Gwinnett County Teacher of the Year program on December 10, 2020, Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) CEO/Superintendent J. Alvin Wilbanks announced Katie Blum of Sugar Hill Elementary School as the recipient of the school system’s highest teaching honor. Due to pandemic restrictions, the celebratory event for the six TOTY finalists, their guests, and a small audience took place at the school district’s Instructional Support Center. While the event—which recognized all 139 local school Teachers of the Year—was live streamed, a recording is available on the GCPS website and via the GCPS TV app.
Prior to earning the school system’s top honor, Blum was first named the 2021 Gwinnett County Elementary School Teacher of the Year. She was selected as Gwinnett’s top teacher from a group of six finalists, which had been narrowed to three level winners. Kelley Donovan of Coleman Middle School is Gwinnett’s 2021 Middle School Teacher of the Year and Philip Peavy of Paul Duke STEM High School is Gwinnett’s 2021 High School Teacher of the Year.
The TOTY selection process began at the start of the school year when thousands of teachers from throughout the district nominated and selected 139 teachers to represent their local schools. A selection committee later narrowed the group to 25 semifinalists, and finally to the six finalists. In addition to the three level winners (Blum, Donovan, and Peavy), the other three finalists were Lena Alonso of Lilburn Elementary School, Julianne Purnell of Five Forks Middle School, and Danielle Swaby of South Gwinnett High School.
High School Teacher of the Year- Philip Peavy, Cyber Security and Game Design Teacher at Paul Duke STEM High School
As a Cybersecurity and Game Design teacher at Paul Duke STEM, Philip Peavy is in uncharted territory and he loves it. He explains, “The ‘Cable Unit’ in Introduction to Cybersecurity is unique to my classroom because it is not done anywhere else in the state or country. Cybersecurity is a new subject around the nation so I develop my entire curriculum. I make the content relevant by providing [students with] skills that are authentic to real-world experience.” As a lifelong learner himself, Peavy is committed to professional development, attending monthly GCPS Career and Technical Education professional development as well as industry conferences to stay on top of the latest industry trends, and to sharpen his teaching skills and methods.
GCPS’ 2021-22 Local School Teachers of the Year (TOTYs)
Alcova Elementary School, Jennifer Bishop, 1st Grade Teacher
Alford Elementary School, Natalia Pyle, 1st Grade Teacher
Anderson-Livsey Elementary School, Taylor Nicole Thomas, Kindergarten Teacher
Annistown Elementary School, Felica Williams, Kindergarten Teacher
Arcado Elementary School, Jamie Garcia Caycho, 1st Grade Teacher
Archer High School, Lee Allen, Algebra Teacher (Grade 9)
Baggett Elementary School, Lucas Findlay, Science Teacher (Grades K-5)
Baldwin Elementary School, Rebecca Patterson, STEM Teacher (Grades K-5)
Bay Creek Middle School, Rebecca Brown, Science Teacher (Grade 7)
Beaver Ridge Elementary School, Christine Bhachech, 4th Grade Teacher
Benefield Elementary School, Rachel Howard, Local School Technology Coordinator and Computer Science Teacher (Grades K-2)
Berkeley Lake Elementary School, Bonnie Walsh, 1st Grade Teacher
Berkmar High School, Dr. Sonia Howard, Chemistry Teacher (Grade 10)
Berkmar Middle School, Taniesha Pooser, Orchestra Teacher (Grades 6-8)
Bethesda Elementary School, Diana Ramirez-Gomez, Dual Language Immersion Teacher – Mathematics and Science – Spanish (Grade 2)
Britt Elementary School, Breana Vining, Early Intervention Program Teacher (Grades 2 and 3)
Brookwood Elementary School, Dr. Nancy Kluge, Kindergarten Teacher
Brookwood High School, Erin Thompson, AP Statistics and Gifted Pre-calculus Teacher (Grades 9-12)
Buice Center, Shanice Turner, Special Education Teacher – Mathematics (Grades 9-12)
Burnette Elementary School, Christy Cochran, Physical Education Teacher (Grades K-5)
Camp Creek Elementary School, Jennifer Gebczyk, Music Teacher (Grades K-5)
Cedar Hill Elementary School, Allison Quevedo, Gifted and Advanced Content Teacher (Grades 4-5)
Centerville Elementary School, Denise Baccus, Media Specialist (Grades K-5)
Central Gwinnett High School, Judith Chavarria, Biology, AP Biology, and Ecology Teacher (Grades 9 and 12)
Chattahoochee Elementary School, Debby Torak, 1st Grade Teacher
Chesney Elementary School, Martine Legagneur-Alcin, 1st Grade Teacher
Coleman Middle School, Brittany Davis, Spanish Teacher (Grades 6-8)
Collins Hill High School, Maggie Harper, English to Speakers of Other Languages Teacher (Grades 9-12)
Cooper Elementary School, Pamela Hart, Special Education Teacher – Interrelated Resource (Grade 1)
Corley Elementary School, Jafria Wooden, Early Intervention Program and English to Speakers of Other Languages Teacher (Grades K-5)
Couch Middle School, Jasmine Clay, Special Education Teacher – Mathematics (Grade 8)
Craig Elementary School, Chimere Burns-Filonenko, 2nd Grade Teacher
Creekland Middle School, Jessica Schiereck, Language Arts Teacher (Grade 7)
Crews Middle School, Sabrina Robertson, Chorus Teacher (Grades 6-8)
Dacula Elementary School, Susan Hunter, Kindergarten Teacher
Dacula High School, Brandi Poore, Special Education Teacher – Severe and Profound Intellectual Disabilities (Grades 9-12)
Dacula Middle School, Katrina Clavon, Special Education Teacher – Interrelated Resource – Language Arts (Grade 6)
Discovery High School, Brandon T. Baker, Chorus Teacher (Grades 9-12)
Duluth High School, Shawn M. Morton, Orchestra Teacher (Grades 9-12)
Duluth Middle School, Lien Huynh, Social Studies Teacher (Grade 7)
Duncan Creek Elementary School, Jennifer Chandler, 3rd Grade Teacher
Dyer Elementary School, Jamie Sturgeon, Special Education Teacher – Interrelated Resource – Language Arts and Mathematics (Grades 3 and 5)
Ferguson Elementary School, Diane Cawthon, Special Education Teacher – Autism Spectrum Disorder (Level 1) (Grades K-5)
Five Forks Middle School, Matt Tankersley, Band Teacher (Grades 6-8)
Fort Daniel Elementary School, Kevin Glausier, Physical Education Teacher (Grades K-5)
Freeman’s Mill Elementary School, Lisa Brownlee, Art Teacher (Grades K-5)
GIVE Center East, Brenda G. Clark, Chemistry Teacher (Grade 10)
GIVE Center West, Emily Eigel, Algebra I Teacher (Grade 9)
Grace Snell Middle School, Amelia Massey, Special Education Teacher – Interrelated Resource – Language Arts (Grade 6)
Graves Elementary School, Elanna Worthy, 3rd Grade Teacher
Grayson Elementary School, Kristen Davis, Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science Teacher (Grade 3)
Grayson High School, Linn Zamora, Visual Arts and Photography Teacher (Grades 9-12)
Gwin Oaks Elementary School, Sara Stephenson, 1st Grade Teacher
Gwinnett Online Campus, David Wise, Science Teacher (Grade 6)
Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology, Laurie Duke, Chorus Teacher (Grades 9-12)
Harbins Elementary School, Katie Walker, 1st Grade Teacher
Harmony Elementary School, Hannah England, Computer Science Teacher (Grades K-5)
Harris Elementary School, Carly Spivey, 1st Grade Teacher
Head Elementary School, Rachel Stallworth, 1st Grade Teacher
Hopkins Elementary School, Dr. Melissa L. Cable, Science and Social Studies Teacher (Grade 4)
Hull Middle School, Kanisha Sherman, Mathematics Teacher (Grade 6)
International Transition Center, Andrea Anderson, Mathematics and Ecology Teacher (Grades 9-12)
Ivy Creek Elementary School, Angela Williams, Dual Language Immersion Teacher – Language Arts and Social Studies – English (Kindergarten)
Jackson Elementary School, Sara Hersch, 4th Grade Teacher
Jenkins Elementary School, Stacey Lackey, Kindergarten Teacher
Jones Middle School, Alyson Carroll, Special Education Teacher – Emotional Behavioral Disorder – Core Subjects and Affective Skills (Grades 6-8)
Jordan Middle School, Vonda Smalls, Special Education Teacher – Interrelated Resource (Grade 7)
Kanoheda Elementary School, Pamela Singh, Special Education Teacher – Specific Learning Disabilities (Grade 2)
Knight Elementary School, Verenice Romo, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies Teacher (Grade 5)
Lanier High School, Jordan Brannen, AP U.S. History Teacher (Grade 11)
Lanier Middle School, Angelique Sharpe, Algebra I Teacher (Grade 8)
Lawrenceville Elementary School, Katie Rawlins, 2nd Grade Teacher
Level Creek Elementary School, Stacey Speicher, 2nd Grade Teacher
Lilburn Elementary School, Kemmer Tsirigos, 1st Grade Teacher
Lilburn Middle School, LaTonja DeCambre, Social Studies Teacher (Grade 8)
Lovin Elementary School, Vema Edwards, Special Education Teacher – Interrelated Resource (Grades K-2)
Magill Elementary School, Suzette Kinsey, Kindergarten Teacher
Mason Elementary School, Kumari A. Baker, Special Education Teacher – Interrelated Resource (Grades K-5)
Maxwell High School of Technology, Brandon Myers, Career and Technical Education Teacher – Manufacturing (Grades 10-12)
McClure Health Science High School, Katie Kangas, Algebra I and AP Statistics Teacher (Grades 9-12)
McConnell Middle School, Toosdhi Ashley, Physical Science Teacher (Grade 8)
McKendree Elementary School, Amanda Rowberry, 5th Grade Teacher
Meadowcreek Elementary School, Crisleyda Almonte, Dual Language Immersion Teacher – Mathematics and Science – Spanish (Grade 2)
Meadowcreek High School, Wanda L. Moon, Accelerated Geometry, Pre-calculus, and AP Calculus AB Teacher (Grades 9-12)
Mill Creek High School, Laurel Christopher, Economics Teacher (Grade 12)
Minor Elementary School, Jessica Carlson, Special Education Teacher – Interrelated Resource (Grades K and 1)
Moore Middle School, Sonta Murray, Mathematics Teacher (Grade 7)
Mountain Park Elementary School, Emily McGilvray, 4th Grade Teacher
Mountain View High School, Gretchen Galvin, Special Education Teacher – Autism Spectrum Disorder (Level 4) (Grades 9-12)
Mulberry Elementary School, Terry Spalding, Speech-Language Pathologist (Grades K-5)
Nesbit Elementary School, Monique DePass, Kindergarten Teacher
Norcross Elementary School, Dr. LaTonya Parker, Language Arts, Science, and Social Studies Teacher (Grade 5)
Norcross High School, Maria Peña, Language Arts Teacher (Grade 10)
North Gwinnett High School, John Rhilinger, Latin Teacher (Grades 9-12)
North Gwinnett Middle School, Jenny Stark, Media Specialist (Grades 6-8)
Northbrook Middle School, Tricia Boston, Visual Arts Teacher (Grades 6-8)
Norton Elementary School, Dr. LaDonna Hollis, 4th Grade Teacher
Oakland Meadow School, Sandra Lisic, Special Education Teacher – Severe and Profound Intellectual Disabilities (Grades 9-12)
Osborne Middle School, Nicole Merrill, Special Education Teacher – Interrelated Resource – Language Arts (Grade 7)
Parkview High School, Anela Buljubasic, Language Arts Teacher (Grade 9)
Parsons Elementary School, Sheri Phillips, Speech-Language Pathologist (Pre-K)
Partee Elementary School, Tonya Merl, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies Teacher (Grade 4)
Patrick Elementary School, James Mack, Special Education Teacher – Emotional Behavioral Disorder (Grades 3-5)
Paul Duke STEM High School, Brooke Skelton, Career and Technical Education Teacher – Audio-Visual Technology and Film (Grades 9-12)
Peachtree Elementary School, Yuenye Yolanda Sato, 5th Grade Teacher
Peachtree Ridge High School, Dr. Andy Edwards, Music Technology Teacher (Grades 9-12)
Pharr Elementary School, Heather Perry, Special Education Teacher – Autism Spectrum Disorder (Level 1) (Grades K-3)
Phoenix High School, Paige Lutes, Language Arts Teacher (Grade 11)
Pinckneyville Middle School, Josie Ebert, Algebra I and Accelerated Algebra I Teacher (Grade 8)
Puckett’s Mill Elementary School, Kelly Powell, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies Teacher (Grade 4)
Radloff Middle School, Demetrius Polk, Social Studies Teacher (Grades 6-8)
Richards Middle School, Lauren Glover, Gifted Mathematics Teacher (Grade 7)
Riverside Elementary School, Rita Arsenault, Kindergarten Teacher
Roberts Elementary School, Shea Criss, 2nd Grade Teacher
Rock Springs Elementary School, Leigh Ann Lacey, Kindergarten Teacher
Rockbridge Elementary School, Sahar Samani, STEM Teacher (Grades K-5)
Rosebud Elementary School, Monica Manis, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies Teacher (Grade 4)
Shiloh Elementary School, Racquel Samuels, Kindergarten Teacher
Shiloh High School, Dr. Krystal Tomlin, Career and Technical Education Teacher – Essentials of Healthcare and Pharmacy (Grades 9-12)
Shiloh Middle School, Alexis Paige Pritchett, Physical Science Teacher (Grade 8)
Simonton Elementary School, Traci Rojo, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies Teacher (Grade 4)
Simpson Elementary School, Nicole Charloff, 2nd Grade Teacher
Snellville Middle School, Lynn Thacker, Special Education Teacher – Interrelated Resource – Mathematics and Science (Grade 7)
South Gwinnett High School, Kandra Malone, Career and Technical Education Teacher – Business and Marketing Education (Grades 9-12)
Starling Elementary School, Heather C. Lewis, 1st Grade Teacher
Stripling Elementary School, Melanie Owens, Kindergarten Teacher
Sugar Hill Elementary School, Margaret Tontillo, Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science Teacher (Grade 4)
Summerour Middle School, Edith Holbrook Riehm, Social Studies Teacher (Grade 8)
Suwanee Elementary School, Karen Phillips, STEM Teacher (Grades K-5)
Sweetwater Middle School, Justice Ejike, Physical Science Teacher (Grade 8)
Sycamore Elementary School, Cynthia Bennett, Science and Social Studies Teacher (Grade 5)
Taylor Elementary School, Nancy Blumenthal, Reading Recovery and Early Intervention Program Teacher (Grade 1)
Trickum Middle School, Bianca Woods, Social Studies Teacher (Grade 6)
Trip Elementary School, Amanda Dysart, Language Arts and Social Studies Teacher (Grade 4)
Twin Rivers Middle School, Andrew Cox, Science Teacher (Grade 8)
Walnut Grove Elementary School, Laurie Rundqwist, STEM Teacher (Grades K-5)
White Oak Elementary School, Melissa Neely, Local School Technology Coordinator (Grades K-5)
Winn Holt Elementary School, Becca Brown, 4th Grade Teacher
Woodward Mill Elementary School, Monica Gassman, Local School Technology Coordinator (Grades K-5)
Source: GCPS
The International Charter Academy of Georgia (ICAGeorgia) recently hosted its third annual Dining with the Scholars event on April 18 — an evening filled with celebration, culture and community spirit.
Held at Canton House in Duluth, the event welcomed over 200 attendees, including students, parents, teachers, board members, local sponsors and special guest, the Consul General of Japan.
Fundraising and performances
The purpose of the event was twofold: to raise funds in support of academic programs for the school and, most importantly, to honor and showcase the outstanding talents and achievements of ICAGeorgia students.
Throughout the evening, guests enjoyed a silent auction, dinner and dessert, as well as a vibrant lineup of student performances, a magic show and live music — creating a truly festive and memorable atmosphere.
“We extend our heartfelt thanks to the many local companies and organizations whose generous sponsorship made this event possible,” said Felecia Tucker-Jones, principal of ICAGeorgia. “[The] support helps us continue to grow and enhance our academic offerings.”
By all accounts, it was a night to remember — and a wonderful reminder of the strong, supportive community that surrounds the school.
Children’s Day Festival
On May 4, students, families and community members gathered at Thrasher Park in Norcross for a vibrant celebration of Children’s Day, a beloved Japanese holiday that honors children’s happiness, growth and well-being.
The Japan’s Children’s Day Festival 2025 brought together over 1,000 attendees for a full day of music, crafts, food and cultural experiences.
Visitors of all ages enjoyed traditional Japanese activities such as origami, kingyo sukui (goldfish scooping) and kimono try-ons, while kids played in bounce houses, participated in golf and soccer games and listened to story time in the park.
The festival’s stage was alive with performances from school choirs, dance studios and even a thrilling showcase of breakdancing and karate. Local vendors offered delicious international food — from pizza, tacos and paella to boba and shaved ice — while guests explored artisan booths and even online shopping options.
Culture and community
This festival was a beautiful reflection of cultural pride and community spirit and partnerships, with ICAGeorgia, local small businesses and generous sponsors bringing the vision to life.
“We’re deeply grateful to all our sponsors, performers, volunteers and families who made the day so special,” said Jeremy Williams, president of the ICAGeorgia PTO.
As Norcross continues to grow as a hub for diverse cultural events, Japan’s Children’s Day Festival stands out as a joyful, family-focused experience with the goal of continuing for years to come.
Follow Japan’s Children’s Day Festival (@JapansChildrensDayFestival) on Instagram and Facebook, and stay tuned for next year’s exciting event.
About ICAGeorgia
The International Charter Academy of Georgia is a statewide charter school available free of charge to any K–6 student residing in Georgia.
Located in Peachtree Corners, the school offers a dual language immersion program in both English and Japanese, a rigorous standards-based curriculum, extracurricular activities and multiple opportunities throughout the year to engage in cross-cultural community.
For more about the school, visit internationalcharteracademy.org.
Simpson Elementary School celebrated Exceptional Children’s Week (ECW) last month with five days of special activities to recognize their special needs population and all of their exceptional students.
April 14–18 is set aside each year to celebrate children with disabilities, gifts and talents. This year’s ECW theme was Bridging Gaps and Building Futures, and the school was happy to take part.
They highlighted each day of the week on the morning news with fun facts about notable people in society — and throughout history — who have overcome challenges with their disabilities, including actor Daniel Radcliffe (who has lived with dyspraxia for his entire life), Tom Cruise, Whoopi Goldberg, Frida Kahlo and Helen Keller.
Simpson Elementary’s technology team also pre-recorded various special needs classes reciting the Pledge of Allegiance every day of the week.
Guest speaker
To end their ECW with a bang, they invited former Simpson Elementary parent, State Representative Scott Hilton, to come in and speak to their K-2 classes about raising his son, Chase (who is autistic and now a student at Norcross High School), and how being different is okay.
“Showing kindness and being inclusive is the best version of humanity,” said Dr. Taffeta Connery, Simpson Elementary School principal, in a statement about the event.
“Simpson Elementary has a special needs population of 214 (23%) of 946 students. [And] … we strive to ensure that our students are valued, recognized and instilled with high expectations for all.”
For more about Simpson Elementary, visit simpsones.gcpsk12.org.
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