August 17, 2026 — Every day, thousands of educators help make Cobb Schools the best place for families to send their children.
Teachers choose the classroom for different reasons, but often it is the memories — some small and others unforgettable — that keep them coming back. Kylie Hardy now has another big moment to carry with her through the rest of the school year.
As the ESOL (English to Speakers of Other Languages) teacher gathered with her fellow educators at Mableton Elementary School for professional learning, Superintendent Chris Ragsdale surprised Hardy for the second time this school year. During the first week of school, he named her Cobb’s Elementary School Teacher of the Year. This time, he returned with an even bigger announcement: Hardy is Cobb’s 2026-27 District Teacher of the Year!
"To be even being considered out of so many teachers and schools in Cobb County, like, for the spotlight to be put on me is just incredible. There are so many other people across this district who are equally as deserving, if not more so. There are amazing people out there, but I'm just very humbled to even be in this position. I never saw it coming," Hardy revealed.
As an ESOL teacher, Hardy helps students in kindergarten through fifth grade, many of whom are learning English for the first time. At Mableton Elementary, she helps students from around the world build a strong foundation for success in middle school and beyond.
Hardy said she was inspired to become an educator by her second-grade teacher while growing up in Alabama. Motivated by her own experience as a student, Cobb's Teacher of the Year takes immense pride and joy in seeing her students flourish at the next level of their education.
While her former students certainly have her to thank for the impact she's made on them, other teachers at Mableton have also taken notice.
One of those teachers is Stacey Brewer, who has worked with Cobb's new District Teacher of the Year for a decade and has seen how Hardy build relationships with students.
Brewer recently recalled seeing Mableton students run up to Hardy in the hall — students Hardy doesn't even teach.
"They just love her. She reaches more than just the ESOL kids. She touches every single child in this school with so much love and care. She comes to work every day, no matter what, and is going to give 100% all the time," declared Brewer.
Fellow Mableton ESOL teacher LaToya Williams echoes the second-grade teacher's praise. In fact, Williams wanted to nominate Hardy for Teacher of the Year, but another colleague beat her to it.
"All of us are so proud of her here. We watch her work every day; we watch how hard she works and how passionate she is about making sure that our multilingual learners are getting a fair shot and making sure that they know that they are seen, they are heard, and they are loved here at this school," Williams shared.
While Hardy goes the extra mile for each student she encounters, she continues to grow as a student herself.
She is one of hundreds of Cobb Schools teachers enrolled in Georgia’s BEST, a program that allows educators to earn advanced degrees at no cost while continuing to teach at their schools. She is on track to graduate in December 2026.
While Georgia’s BEST is helping Hardy grow as an educator, she remains focused on the students who inspire her work. Being named Cobb's District Teacher of the Year reinforces that focus. For Hardy, the recognition is another unforgettable moment in a career centered on helping students feel seen, supported, and prepared for what comes next. Still, the magnitude of the honor has not fully sunk in.
"You don't show up and do this kind of work for this type of recognition. The fact that I had even gotten this far is just huge to me. I feel like I'm still processing it," said Hardy.
The Cobb community will come together to celebrate Hardy again later this fall when she places her handprints in cement on Marietta Square, leaving her mark on Cobb’s history just as she has on the lives of her students.
