GA Teacher Of The Year Finalists Include Two From Gwinnett

GWINNETT COUNTY, GA — Two instructors from northern Gwinnett — one from the county and one from Buford — were named finalists Thursday for 2022 Georgia Teacher of the Year.

They are Rebecca Elizabeth Carlisle, AP world history and STEM humanities teacher, North Gwinnett High School in Suwanee; and Maggie Johnson Pruitt, self-contained special education teacher, Buford High School.

Carlisle and Pruett are among 10 finalists chosen from a pool of applicants all previously selected as their school district’s Teacher of the Year. The applications were read by a panel of judges that included teachers, past Georgia Teacher of the Year winners, administrators, community leaders and others. The finalists were chosen based on the strength of their essay responses.

“This is a group of creative, hardworking, talented teachers who pushed through great challenges this year to ensure students were still able to learn, connect, and grow,” said Georgia School Superintendent Richard Woods, who announced the finalists Thursday. “I am proud to call each of them my colleagues.”

Because the Georgia Teacher of the Year program was paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s finalists were selected from the group originally slated to be recognized in 2020.

The 2022 Georgia Teacher of the Year will travel around the state and nation, as COVID-19 protocols allow, serving as an ambassador for the teaching profession in Georgia. He or she will also be entered in the National Teacher of the Year competition.