Houston County School District names 2024-2025 Teacher of the Year
Ms. Jade Thomas of Lake Joy Elementary School is the 2024-2025 Houston County Teacher of the Year, the Houston County School District announced in a news release on Thursday.
PERRY, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Ms. Jade Thomas of Lake Joy Elementary School is the 2024-2025 Houston County Teacher of the Year, the Houston County School District announced in a news release on Thursday.
Thomas received more than $16,000 in cash and prizes donated by organizations in Houston County.
Ms. Thomas, who’s been teaching for seven years, is currently a fourth grade teacher. She previously taught fifth grade at Lake Joy Elementary.
Before her teaching career, she served in the Marine Corps for eight years.
“I provide all students with the opportunity to grow as creative and critical thinkers by believing challenging tasks are within reach, regardless of their ability levels,” Thomas said. “Students will reach their greatest potential because in Houston County, and in my classroom, striving for excellence is the standard!”
The Houston County School District says the following teachers were finalists: Megan Jones of Veterans High School, Andrea Skipper of Eagle Springs Elementary, Shannon Ballard of Mossy Creek Middle School and Kaley Hicks of Bonaire Middle School.
District-level Support Person of the Year and School-level Support Person of the Year
In addition to recognizing the Teacher of the Year, the district says it enhanced the Support Person of the Year program this year to highlight the top five Support Person of the Year finalists from the school level and the six finalists from each district-level department. Annette Pender from the Student Services Department was selected as the District-level Support Person of the Year, and Shay Massey from Mossy Creek Middle School was chosen as the School-level Support Person of the Year.
The district says approximately 60 local businesses and community organizations donated gifts for the Teachers of the Year and the Support Person of the Year finalists. A full list of contributors can be found here.
