Twenty-six teachers from the Fayette County Public School System have been nominated to represent their school in the 2020 Fayette County Teacher of the Year competition.

The teachers were selected by their peers through a voting process that took place at the schools in October. Each school-level teacher of the year is now a nominee for the 2020 teacher of the year competition, and will complete an essay-style application about their teaching styles, objectives and classroom initiatives. The applications will be rated by a three-person panel consisting of last year’s Fayette County Teacher of the Year winner, Michael Wamsley from Robert J. Burch Elementary, and two retired educators.

The teachers with the three top scores will become finalists in the competition and will take part in a final judging stage that includes an onsite classroom visit and interview with the judges. The winner will be announced April 16 at the annual Fayette County Teacher of the Year Ceremony at New Hope Baptist Church, South Campus, starting at 6 p.m.

The following teachers are nominees for the 2020 Fayette County Teacher of the Year competition:

Renee Fitzsimmons, Braelinn Elementary

Leslie Gable, Cleveland Elementary

Mark McCloud, Crabapple Elementary

Jennifer Shimshick, Fayetteville Elementary

Kari Boyle, Huddleston Elementary

Angela McMillan, Inman Elementary

Gary Smith, Kedron Elementary

Heather Gruszka, North Fayette Elementary

Brittan Parker, Oak Grove Elementary

Lynn Atchison, Peachtree City Elementary

Shannon Cope, Peeples Elementary

Jamie Hertha, Robert J. Burch Elementary

Kacie Reddig, Sara Harp Minter Elementary

Maegan Stalvey, Spring Hill Elementary

Laurie Kufchak, Bennett's Mill Middle

Christina Rufenacht, Flat Rock Middle

Bob Rice, J.C. Booth Middle

Ashley Burnett, Rising Starr Middle

Kim Broome, Whitewater Middle

Jenneifer D'Amato, Fayette County High

Katherine Turner, McIntosh High

Kelly Gallman, Sandy Creek High

Nick Gillies, Starr's Mill High

Nick Castagna, Whitewater High

Joanne Pringle-Shakoor, The Alternative Program

Mary Tuck, Open Campus