Top awards for members of the Cobb Schools team continue to roll in before the countdown for the New Year begins. The awards include Acworth Citizen of the Year, West Cobb Citizen of the Year, and Smyrna Citizen of the Year.

Dr. Bertha Nelson was named the 2023 Acworth Citizen of the Year for her service as principal of Acworth Elementary School.

The Cobb Chamber’s Northwest Cobb Area Council, which represents Northwest Cobb’s three distinct districts of Acworth, Kennesaw, and West Cobb, selected Dr. Nelson as a community advocate and recognized the Cobb educator for being passionate about serving students and families in the City of Acworth for nearly a decade. Dedicated to student success and business and community partnerships, Dr. Nelson works tirelessly to ensure all Acworth students have the opportunity to succeed. She works closely with the Acworth Elementary math team and advanced content classes to promote critical and creative thinking, advanced research skills, and accelerated academics. 

A member of the Acworth Business Association, Cobb County Principal Advisory Committee, and a Cobb County School District Collaborative Team Leader, Dr. Nelson has created a school environment focused on student success and supported by strong parent and community relationships. She works closely with local businesses, churches, and community members to provide opportunities and experiences for Acworth students that foster positive relationships that benefit the school and the surrounding community. Organizations she has volunteered with include MUST Ministries, Piedmont Church, and Acworth Elementary School Food Pantry. 

The principal’s vision for Acworth Elementary is to continue the tradition of excellence in the community. Under Dr. Nelson’s leadership, the school was named 2023 Title I Reward School, became STEM and Learning Commons certified, increased attendance by 97 percent from 2019 to 2023, and increased students scoring at the proficient and distinguished levels on the Georgia Milestones Assessment in Math and ELA. The veteran Cobb Schools educator understands the importance of prioritizing education and works daily to ensure Acworth continues to be a great place to live, work, and play. 

The West Cobb Citizen of the Year also has ties to Cobb Schools and supporting students. 

The Cobb Chamber honored Joy Doss, an attorney with The Doss Firm and Vice President of the Cobb Schools Foundation board, with the Citizen of the Year title. According to the Chamber, Ms. Doss is an unsung hero who is constantly working behind the scenes to serve others. Her selfless efforts to better the community are evident in the organizations where she volunteers, like the Cobb Schools Foundation. Ms. Doss was recently at H.A.V.E.N. Academy for the grand opening of a new outdoor space tailored to the special needs of students at the school. In November, she helped present 5 Cobb Middle School students with $10,000 scholarship opportunities. 

Before the latest Citizen of the Year announcements, Teasley Elementary School teacher and coach Eric Homansky was named Smyrna Citizen of the Year. 

Coach Homansky has been teaching in the Cobb County School District for 22 years and serves as the Physical Education teacher at Teasley. In addition to teaching, he owns two Smyrna-based small businesses, Way2Play Sports and FNA Flag Football.

Homansky volunteers as a coach with Smyrna Little League, NASA TopHat Soccer, and the Kyle Pease Foundation. When not running around fields, he enjoys spending time with his family, staying active, being outdoors, cheering for the New York Mets, and assisting the efforts of the Support Smyrna Board of Directors. Homansky has been a proud resident of Smyrna since 2003, where he lives with his wife and sons.