Jones County math teacher named Georgia Teacher of the Year
Charm Mapp, an eighth-grade math teacher at Clifton Ridge Middle School, was selected from 10 statewide finalists.
ATLANTA (41NBC/WMGT) — A Jones County eighth-grade math teacher has been named Georgia’s 2027 Teacher of the Year.
Charm Mapp, who teaches at Clifton Ridge Middle School, was announced as the statewide winner by State School Superintendent Richard Woods during a banquet Saturday at the Georgia Aquarium celebrating District Teachers of the Year.
“Charm Mapp makes mathematics come alive for her students through her classroom number talks and hands-on instruction,” Woods said. “I can’t wait to see how she advocates for students, teachers, and schools throughout her time as Georgia Teacher of the Year. I offer my sincere congratulations to all of our District Teachers of the Year and our outstanding group of top ten finalists, all of whom showcase the very best our public schools have to offer. I look forward to continuing to work closely with each of them as members of my Teacher Advisory Council.”
Mapp was selected from 10 finalists for the Georgia Teacher of the Year recognition. The finalists were chosen from a pool of applicants who had each been selected as their district’s Teacher of the Year.
According to the Georgia Department of Education, Mapp has 23 years of experience in education and serves as a gifted lead teacher at Clifton Ridge Middle School. She also supports the Jones County Virtual Academy.
The department says Mapp uses classroom number talks to help students connect math to real life through conversations with teachers, community members and family members.
“It’s amazing to see over the course of the school year how students’ initial hesitancy transforms to shared empowerment as they encourage and validate the responses of their peers,” Mapp wrote in her application for Georgia Teacher of the Year. “With our class number talks, I’m able to engage students from all backgrounds and levels of ability.”
Mapp has mentored 19 student teachers, served as a partner teacher liaison and worked as a pre-education instructor for Georgia College & State University.
The Georgia Department of Education says she holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in middle grades education and a specialist’s degree in curriculum and instruction from Georgia College & State University. She is also pursuing a doctorate in curriculum and instruction.
As Georgia Teacher of the Year, Mapp will serve as an advocate for public education, speak about the teaching profession and serve as an ex-officio member of the State Board of Education. She will also participate in the selection process for the 2027 National Teacher of the Year.
The Georgia Teacher of the Year program operates one year ahead to align with the national program. Mapp will serve from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027.
