South Atlanta educator named city’s teacher of the year

A Cleveland Avenue Elementary School teacher of gifted students, Rita Simmons, has been named the teacher of the year for Atlanta Public Schools.

Simmons, who teaches students in kindergarten through fifth grade at the south Atlanta school, is the founder of a mentoring organization for girls, and she previously taught fifth grade in Cobb County.

Simmons was chosen for the teacher of the year award over Nathaniel Snyder of KIPP Ways Academy and Danielle Gilley Costarides of North Atlanta High School.