The Muscogee Educational Excellence Foundation (MEEF) announced the Top Ten Honorees for the Muscogee County School District Teacher of the Year (TOTY) today, March 11^th. The 2026 Top Ten were selected from the applications of 53 teacher Honorees – each named the Teacher of the Year for their respective schools. All Top Ten Honorees were notified at their schools as MEEF Board members and selection committee members surprised them in their classroom with the announcement. Top Ten Honorees are:

MEEF recognizes teachers who have dedicated themselves to excellence in the classroom. The Top Ten Honorees will be interviewed by the MEEF Selection Committee, which is made up of business and educational leaders in Columbus. After the interviews, the Selection Committee will select the Top Three Honorees, who will then be observed in their classrooms. The 2026 MCSD Teacher of the Year will be announced at the Gala on Thursday, May 7^th, at the Trade Center to an expected crowd of over 1,100 supporters of excellence in education.

“Reviewing each of the 53 honoree applications provides an inspiring glimpse into the extraordinary work happening in classrooms across our district every single day,” said Marquette McKnight, Executive Director of MEEF. “Our community leaders who serve on the selection committee are consistently moved by the depth of dedication, creativity, and heart our teachers bring to their students. Selecting the Top Ten is always an incredibly difficult decision, but these educators distinguished themselves through their measurable impact, innovative instruction, and unwavering commitment to student success.”

McKnight added that being named to the Top Ten opens the door to one of MEEF’s most transformative opportunities, the chance to attend a graduate level professional development class at Harvard’s School of Education. “The Harvard Fellows experience is more than professional development, it’s a life-changing opportunity that equips teachers with new perspectives, renewed inspiration, and advanced leadership skills. Our Harvard Fellows return to MCSD empowered to elevate not only their own classrooms, but their schools and colleagues as well.”

MEEF’S 2026 TOTY Selection Committee members are Gina Smith - Chair, Keller Williams; Major Gen. (Ret.) Dave Coburn; Gena Davis, 2022 TOTY Top Three and 2023 Harvard Fellow; Sheryl Green, 2015 MCSD Teacher of the Year and 2016 Harvard Fellow; Brittney Smith, Community Leader, Erica Walker, United Way of the Chattahoochee Valley; Marquette McKnight, Muscogee Educational Excellence Foundation.

The gala is open to the public and tickets to the Gala can be purchased at RiverCenter Box Office starting March 23^rd, for $75 each.