This Muscogee County educator is one of the finalists to be Georgia’s Teacher of the Year
Christie Akers, an English teacher at Northside High School, is among the 10 finalists to be the Georgia Teacher of the Year.
Georgia Department of Education Superintendent Richard Woods visited Columbus to deliver the news in person to Akers, who is the Muscogee County School District 2024 Teacher of the Year.
MCSD Superintendent David Lewis joined the surprise celebration in Akers’ classroom.
“Ms. Akers exemplifies the highest standards of teaching and leadership in education,” Lewis said in MCSD’s news release Wednesday. “Her commitment to student success and innovative approach to learning make her an outstanding representative of Muscogee County and the state of Georgia.”
Akers told the Ledger-Enquirer in an emailed interview she was in “absolute shock” when she heard she is a finalist.
“It’s hard for me to process this kind of attention and accolades, when all I do is what every teacher does,” she said. “I love my students, and I do my best to be the teacher they deserve every day.”
The selection process for the district and state Teacher of the Year awards has allowed Akers to meet “such phenomenal educators, that I am honored to represent my colleagues in MCSD.”
Akers thanked MCSD and the Muscogee Educational Excellence Foundation, which conduct the district’s Teacher of the Year program, for being “so supportive of me throughout this entire process. . . . I am amazed at the outpouring of love and excitement that I have received thus far.”
The state finalists will be honored during a luncheon April 17 in Atlanta. That event also will include interviews with the selection committee.
The Georgia Teacher of the Year is scheduled to be announced during a conference May 29-30 at Lake Lanier Islands.
This story was originally published March 6, 2025 at 9:52 AM.
