53 nominees narrowed to 3 finalists for Muscogee Teacher of the Year award
The Muscogee County School District 2026 Teacher of the Year will be one of these three finalists:
- Carolyn Bingham, Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School, fourth-grade English as a Second Language
- Mandy Chase, Double Churches Middle School, math
- Christian Grier, Clubview Elementary School, physical education
The Muscogee Educational Excellence Foundation, which conducts MCSD’s Teacher of the Year program, announced the finalists Friday by making surprise visits to their classrooms.
The 53 nominees, one from each MCSD school, were announced in January. MEEF’s selection committee, comprising business and education leaders, read the applications to determine the 10 semifinalists, who were announced March 4.
Then the committee interviewed the semifinalists to choose three finalists. The winner will be announced during MEEF’s annual gala, May 7 (6 p.m. reception, 6:45 p.m. dinner) in the Columbus Convention & Trade Center. The $70 tickets are on sale at the RiverCenter for the Performing Arts box office.
MEEF’s 2026 MCSD Teacher of the Year Selection Committee members are:
- Gina Smith (chairwoman)
- Retired Maj. Gen. Dave Coburn
- Gena Davis (2022 MCSD Teacher of the Year finalist)
- Sheryl Green (2015 MCSD Teacher of the Year)
- Marquette McKnight
- Brittney Smith
- Erica Walker
Smith explained why the committee chose these three teachers as the finalists.
“The passion, purpose, and impact these teachers bring to their classrooms is truly remarkable,” she said in the foundation’s news release. “For them, teaching is far more than a career — it’s a calling.
“Each of these educators goes above and beyond to inspire learning, build meaningful connections with students and support their peers. Their dedication, heart and commitment are what make education in our community so special and why they stand out among an already extraordinary group.”
MEEF’s mission is to foster educational excellence by recognizing and rewarding innovative and exceptionally effective teachers in MCSD. The foundation has awarded more than $3.4 million to such educators during the past 30 years through financial incentives, including the Teacher of the Year program, the Harvard Fellows training, the Buntin Schools of Excellence training and a variety of grants.
Reactions from the finalists
Here’s what the finalists told the Ledger-Enquirer after their surprises:
Bingham wiped away tears as she said she was overwhelmed.
“The whole process has been so lovely, from being chosen as the MLK teacher of the year to top 10, now top three, I feel like I’m shaking,” she said. “It’s just been such wonderful surprises. But I know that I’m here because of all the amazing people I’ve worked with.
“So I think about all the administration teams, and I think about all my wonderful colleagues, because they’ve really helped shape me into the teacher that I am. And then, of course, I think about all my students, how excited they are to come to school to learn, and what a blessing it is to be the one that gets to teach them.”
Chase described the surprise as “amazing.”
“It’s hard to put words into this,” she said. “but to be recognized for what you put so much of your soul into, I’m just so grateful for everything that (MEEF and MCSD) have done to celebrate us and help us just feel the passion.”
Grier had another reason to celebrate Friday — his birthday.
“I am honestly blown away and floored,” he said. “Obviously, I’ve been focusing on field day, all day, all night, last night, like that was my goal today, and so to make sure that all these kids had what they needed to have today and then on my birthday and to have a birthday cake.
“I mean, this is just, I am over the moon, and just to see all you guys here today for this moment, I really appreciate it. There’s just not a lot of words I can say based on just the support and action that y’all are showing right now. So I appreciate every bit of this. So thank you all so much.”
Why they are teachers
Bingham is in her 12th year as a teacher, all at MLK. She graduated from Grace Christian School and Columbus State University.
“I became a teacher late in life,” she said. “My life was going in one direction, and that didn’t pan out, and so I had to think of something I was going to do to take care of me and my boys. I’ve been a single mom. They’re 18 and 19 since they were one and two.”
Bingham cherishes the positive impact she sees she made on her students.
“When I walk down the hall, I think about the students I had last year,” she said. “If they see me, they do whatever they can to get my attention. They want to hug you. They want to high-five you. They just want you to smile at them. It just lets me know that I’m doing something right.”
Chase is in her 25th year teaching, all in MCSD and previously at Baker Middle School. She grew up in Massachusetts but moved to Columbus with her military family and graduate from Jordan Vocational High School and CSU.
“My teachers were so influential in my life,” she said. “They really helped me through the toughest times, and specifically, I teach these guys in middle school. It’s the hardest time of their life, and they need people that understand them and want to be there for them during their hardest times, and I get to be that person for them.”
Grier has been a teacher for 11 years, all in MCSD and previously at Brewer Elementary School. He was born at Fort Benning and graduated from Columbus High School, CSU, North Georgia and Jacksonville State.
“I love kids,” he said. “I love challenging kids, and I love bringing out potential in them that they may not even know they have. And at the elementary level, I’m able to help start that transformation at a young age, and hopefully that carries with them for the rest of their life and their school careers.”
This story was originally published March 27, 2026 at 10:02 AM.
