A Cherokee County educator has been chosen as the middle school principal of the year.

Susan Zinkil works at Teasley Middle School.

Georgia Association of Secondary School Principals representatives, Superintendent Brian Hightower, his senior staff and school board members surprised her Friday with the news.

Dr. Zinkil was appointed the Principal of Teasley in 2010. Under her leadership, Teasley has been recognized as: a “Distinguished Breakout Middle School” by the Georgia Association of Secondary School Principals in 2013, a finalist for the Georgia Family Friendly Partnership Award in 2014, and a Title I Reward School in 2012 and 2015 by the Georgia Department of Education. Additionally, the Technology Association of Georgia named Teasley as a finalist in its science technology engineering and math awards in 2015.