54 nominees are narrowed to 10 semifinalists for Muscogee County Teacher of the Year award
The Muscogee County School District 2025 Teacher of the Year in Columbus will be one of these 10 semifinalists:
- April Allen, Baker Middle School, Georgia studies
- Karissa Branch, Northside High School, healthcare
- Heaven Briggs, Rothschild Leadership Academy, English language arts
- Beth Carlisle, Clubview Elementary School, fourth grade
- Eretha Hamilton, Double Churches Middle School, science
- Jennifer Parker, Lonnie Jackson Academy, English language arts
- Charles Repass, Jordan Vocational High School, special education
- Christi Scarbrough, Veterans Memorial Middle School, Earth science
- Markia Woods, Carver High School, physics
- Amanda Zarate, Wynnton Arts Academy, theater arts.
The Muscogee Educational Excellence Foundation, which conducts MCSD’s Teacher of the Year program, announced the semifinalists Tuesday.
Faculty and staff at MCSD’s 54 schools nominated a teacher, announced in January, to represent their school as a candidate for this award. MEEF’s selection committee, comprising community leaders, read the applications to determine the 10 semifinalists.
The committee will interview the semifinalists to choose three finalists. The winner will be announced during MEEF’s annual gala, May 1 in the Columbus Convention & Trade Center, starting with a 6 p.m. reception, followed by the dinner and program at 6:45 p.m. The $55 tickets will go on sale March 24 at the RiverCenter for the Performing Arts box office.
MEEF’s 2025 Teacher of the Year selection committee members are:
- Josh Reynolds (chairman) of TSYS/Global Payments
- Vanessa Ellis, MCSD 2022 Teacher of the Year
- Michael Graydon of Synovus
- Sheryl Green, MCSD 2015 Teacher of the Year
- John Dale Hester of Columbus United
- Marquette McKnight of Media, Marketing and More
- Tasha Morman, MCSD 2023 Teacher of the Year
- John Pezold of Whit’s Frozen Custard
- Gina Smith of Keller Williams
- Ty Webb of W.C. Bradley Company.
“Reviewing all 54 honoree applications offers those leading our community a profound insight into the daily dedication of teachers,” McKnight, executive director of MEEF, said in the foundation’s news release. “Each year, the committee is in awe of the unwavering commitment and passion teachers bring to their students.
“Narrowing it down to the top 10 was no easy task, but these educators stood out for their extraordinary impact, creative approaches to teaching and unwavering passion for helping students reach their full potential.”
MEEF is a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering educational excellence by helping teachers who are innovative and exceptionally effective in the public schools of Columbus. The foundation has awarded more than $3.3 million to such educators through financial incentives in the Teacher of the Year program, the MEEF Grant program, the MEEF Endowment Fund and the Harvard Fellows program.
MCSD Teacher of the Year semifinalists are eligible to apply to be one of MEEF’s Harvard Fellows, an all-expenses-paid week of professional development at the Ivy League school.
“The Harvard Fellows experience is a powerful catalyst for professional growth, empowering teachers to become even stronger leaders for their students and colleagues in MCSD,” McKnight said.
This story was originally published March 11, 2025 at 12:39 PM.
