The five finalists for SCCPSS 2026 District Teacher of the Year were named at a reception held at the Woodville-Tompkins Technical and Career High School Auditorium on Wednesday, December 4, 2024.  The announcement was made after 58 school level Teachers of the Year were recognized by the Superintendent and Board Members in attendance. WJCL News Anchor Shannon Royster was the event emcee.

The five finalists as seen in the photo attached are:  

Jameson T Meadows of Godley Station K-8 School

Christy Lynes of May Howard Elementary School

Jennifer Hughes of Southwest Elementary School

Kaleena Jedinak of Tybee Island Maritime Academy 

Brooklyn Howard of Windsor Forest High School

The finalists were determined by scores from Community Readers of each teacher’s essay application, which is based on the State Teacher of the Year application.

The five finalists will now move on in competition to name the District Teacher of the Year for the 2025-26 School Year.  That process includes classroom observations and panel interviews over the next month.  The District Teacher of the Year will be announced at the annual Gala expected to take place in March 2025.