July 31, 2025—As he does every year, Superintendent Chris Ragsdale traveled around the District awarding level Teacher of the Year (TOTY) awards to three very deserving Cobb educators. Superintendent Ragsdale, members of the Executive Cabinet, and school faculty and administration attended the surprise presentation at each of the three schools.

"This is really awesome. I can’t say enough about how much I appreciate our teachers. The Teachers of the Year are the 'superstars,' but it takes the entire team to make our District successful. It is always so great to see all the other teachers at a school gather around and support the winner. You get to really see the team approach," Superintendent Ragsdale said about the TOTY program.

These three top teachers will now compete for the overall District TOTY and represent the Best Place to Teach, Lead, and Learn for the upcoming school year, just like Karen Wright did last year. The overall winner will also participate in the state TOTY competition and cement their place in history—literally—in Marietta Square.

The Elementary TOTY was awarded to Caleb Garrett from Compton ES. Caleb is known around the school for being "all in " and helping out everywhere and anywhere he is needed. He works with the school's autism program, pairing 5th graders with program students to help serve iced coffee to Compton staff on Fridays. He also leads professional learning at various schools, focusing on connecting and inspiring students.

"I really pride myself in having a fun-looking classroom," Caleb said with a smile. "I like to have students coming into an environment where they feel excited and happy and ready to learn. My own enthusiasm comes a lot from meeting new people and learning new ideas. That's what keeps me energized. I work in a school with exceptional teachers. I’m very humbled and grateful for this recognition."

The Middle School TOTY award went to Betty Gray Middle School mathematics teacher Lakeisha Grange. She is entering her fourth year of teaching in Cobb, and she loves the District’s focus on making sure she has everything she needs to help students succeed.

"It’s been a great experience," she said. "It’s nice to have a community that supports you, and the Betty Gray community is very supportive. The students want to learn, and I help them understand how math applies to the real world."

In addition to teaching math, Professor Grange holds leadership and advisory roles at the school (Betty Gray MS calls their teachers "professors") and serves as the secretary for the magnet program at South Cobb High School. 

Professor Grange was chosen as the District Middle School level TOTY in part for her unwavering dedication to student learning and building connections with her students. She is also known for using innovative teaching methods and fostering a welcoming and inclusive learning environment.

When asked what makes her successful, Professor Grange didn’t hesitate. “Consistency is key. If we understand our 'why' and stick with it, we will grow and accomplish everything we set out to do. It’s great to be acknowledged for all the hard work I’ve been doing, and I will continue to be dedicated to the cause. Keeping the students at the forefront is the most important thing," she said confidently.

Pope Special Education teacher Amanda Dillard humbly received the High School TOTY. In addition to being an amazing Special Education teacher, Amanda consistently goes above and beyond for her students, serves as the school's E-Sports coach, and was nominated as Coach of the Year.

"Every day when I come into work, I hope that I can make a difference in at least one student’s life," Amanda said about her daily perspective. "Each day, I hope I can connect one-on-one with at least one student to make their day better. I bring a lot of positive energy and positive vibes to our environment here. I try to bring the fun!"

Amanda loves teaching at Pope and being part of the Cobb Schools team. "We’re a big family here at Pope, and we support each other. Everybody here is performing at their highest level. I feel very supported in my work. I don’t think there’s anywhere else that supports their employees the way Cobb does," she said.

She is among the hundreds of Cobb teachers in the Georgia’s BEST program. "It's such a huge opportunity for Cobb teachers to earn higher degrees and further our learning so we can further the learning of our students. I will probably retire from Cobb County, because it’s such a great place to work!" Amanda concluded enthusiastically. 

"When we say One Goal, it’s truly One Goal," Caleb agreed. "We care about our students, staff, and families. Everybody is involved and benefits from our one goal. If you want teachers to care about your kids, Cobb is the place to be. It is a community that you can come into and know that they’ve got your back, no matter what. And I think that’s my favorite part about working in this District!"