The Muscogee Educational Excellence Foundation (MEEF) has narrowed the field and announced the Top Three Honorees for the Muscogee County School District Teacher of the Year. Honorees were selected from the Top Ten, after extensive interviews with each teacher.

The Top Three Honorees are:

MEEF recognizes teachers who have dedicated themselves to excellence in the classroom. The MEEF Selection Committee – which is made up of business and educational leaders in Columbus – will observe each of the Top Three Honorees in their respective classrooms. The 2023 MCSD Teacher of the Year will be announced at the Gala on Thursday, May 4th at the Trade Center to a sold-out crowd of over 1,200 supporters of excellence in education.

"We were blown away by the work these teachers do. And of course, the teachers don't see it as work; they see it as their mission in life. They do whatever it takes to reach their students and teach their students. The passion they have for teaching; the love they have for their students; and the respect they have for their fellow teachers is inspiring." Josh Reynolds, MEEF Board Chair and TOTY Selection Committee Chair.

The Selection Committee members include MEEF Board members, community leaders and former MCSD Teachers of the Year including: Josh Reynolds (TSYS Global Payments)-Chair, Mandy Flynn (Aflac), Gina Smith (Coldwell Banker, KPDD), Ty Webb (W.C. Bradley), Sheryl Green (2015 MCSD TOTY), Rita Ellis (Key 2 Wall Street), Dacia Sheffield (2019 MCSD TOTY), Lisa Seegar (2021 MCSD TOTY), and Marquette McKnight (MEEF).

The gala is made possible by the generosity of sponsors including, Platinum Sponsor – Aflac, W.C. Bradley Co.,; Gold Sponsors - Kinetic Credit Union, Synovus; Silver Sponsors - Representative Richard Smith, Councilor Judy W. Thomas, Janet Davis, Outdoor Solutions, Brasfield & Gorrie, Hect Burdeshaw Architects, Virtucom, Layer 3 Communications, TSYS; Bronze Sponsors - 2WR Architects & Partners, Bill Reaves, Burger King, Colony Bank, Columbus Water Works, Complete Tire & Service, EMC Engineering Services, FabArts, Freeman & Associates, Goggans, Stutzman, Hudson, Wilson & Mize, Hughston Clinic, Superior Court Judge Art Smith, Kar-Tunes, Lexia Learning, Muscogee Retired Educators Association, Robinson, Grimes & Company, Spud Bowen and Associates, OUTFRONT Media, and Columbus State University