Six semifinalists have been named by Henry County Schools for the 2020-2021 Teacher of the Year award. After each of the district’s 52 schools named its top teacher for the year just before the start of summer break, the field was recent narrowed to the following educators: Laura Lamb, Rock Spring Elementary; Tabatha Wesley, Timber Ridge Elementary; Deborah Sechrist, Dutchtown Middle; Melanie Kellam, McDonough Middle; Yetta Smith, Hampton High; and James Forsythe, Luella High.

The winner will be announced Oct. 22 at the district’s annual Teacher of the Year ceremony which honors all 52 teachers as well as other employees from various departments.

About the Author

Keep Reading

A man rides a bicycle in the rain along 10th Street in downtown Atlanta on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025. (Ben Hendren for the AJC)

Credit: Ben Hendren

Featured

Inventor Lonnie Johnson stands with his Super Soaker water guns at JTEC Energy on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2025, in Atlanta. Johnson, a former NASA engineer, is currently working on a new energy technology through his company’s JTEC device that turns thermal heat into usable energy. (Natrice Miller/AJC)