Armuchee Resident is Finalist for Georgia Teacher of the Year

Leigha Burnham, of Armuchee, is one of the 10 finalists for Georgia Teacher of the Year announced by State School Superintendent Richard Woods. Burnham is the library media & technology specialist at Summerville Middle School in Chattooga County.

Throughout the month of March, Woods surprised each finalist in their classroom to let them know they’d been selected. All 10 finalists will meet with a panel of judges for formal interviews and speeches before the Teacher of the Year selection in May.

“Each one of these educators is a shining example of the best of public education — their professionalism, talent, and dedication are examples for us all,” Woods said. “It was a joy to meet each of them this month and see their skill in the classroom firsthand.”

Burnham is a veteran Georgia educator with unparalleled enthusiasm for promoting literacy and STEM education. She began the school’s first STEM program, which has now expanded to all three grade levels. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Berry College, a master’s from Jacksonville State University and a specialist’s degree from the University of West Georgia.

A release from the Georgia Department of Education notes that Burnham believes the best teachers create collaborative and creative environments where students are empowered to take ownership of their learning.

The finalists were chosen from a pool of applicants all previously selected as their school district’s Teacher of the Year. The applications were read and scored by a group of reviewers that included past Georgia Teacher of the Year winners and finalists along with GDOE representatives.

The Georgia Teacher of the Year will serve as an ambassador for the teaching profession in Georgia and will be entered in the National Teacher of the Year competition. The program operates one year ahead to align with the national program; the 2025 Teacher of the Year will serve from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025.

The other finalists are Jenny Cofield, Morgan County High School; Crystal McDowell, Greenbrier High School in Columbia County; Steven McIntyre, Chestatee High School in Hall County; Alicia Reno, Talley Street Upper Elementary School in Decatur; Daisha Taylor, Church Street Elementary School in Clayton County; Candace Torrence, A.L. Burruss Elementary School on Marietta; Holly Witcher, Tesnatee Gap Elementary School in White County; Ashleigh Wright, Southeast Bulloch High School in Bulloch County; and Ashley Young, Lanier County Middle School.