CCSD Names Four Finalists for 2026 Teacher of the Year

<p><em>Woodstock Community News| Woodstock, GA</em></p><p>The Cherokee County School District surprised four educators on Feb. 5, naming them finalists for the 2026 Teacher of the Year award. Superintendent Mary Elizabeth Davis visited classrooms across the county to announce the selections ahead of the March winner reveal.</p><p>The finalists represent a diverse range of subjects and grade levels. They include Sarah Edwards, an English literature and composition teacher at Dean Rusk Middle School; Jackson Martinez, a PE teacher at Hickory Flat Elementary School; Bree Mixson, an Early Intervention Program teacher at R.M. Moore ES STEM Academy; and Bobby Mayo Wiggins II, a carpentry and construction Career Pathway teacher at Cherokee High School.</p><p>A committee comprised of retired educators, community leaders, and the current CCSD Teacher of the Year selected the finalists from the pool of school-level winners. The selection process involved reviewing essay answers regarding the teachers' careers and views on education, as well as letters of support from principals, colleagues, students, and parents.</p><p>The district will announce the overall winner during the "Legacy Makers" celebration in March. The winner will represent the district in the Georgia Teacher of the Year competition. Businesses interested in sponsoring the awards banquet can contact Penny Dempsey at 770-479-1871 or penny.dempsey@cherokeek12.net.</p>