March 4, 2026 — At Pope High School, special education teacher Amanda Dillard has had an eventful year of firsts.
After being named Cobb's Teacher of the Year, her handprints were unveiled on Marietta Square and later recognized at a district-wide pep rally, but her accolades keep rolling in.
During a surprise announcement, Dillard was named a Top 10 finalist for Georgia's Teacher of the Year by State Superintendent Richard Woods, who was joined by Cobb Superintendent Chris Ragsdale.
"It was a huge honor and surprise to see the superintendent and state superintendent walk into your classroom," said Dillard.
Dillard was selected as Cobb's Teacher of the Year out of more than 8,000 teachers in the district.
With this new recognition, Dillard has now been selected as one of the top 10 educators in the state out of more than 180 school districts and more than 100,000 teachers in Georgia.
"This is the first time Cobb has had a top ten finalist since my tenure dating back to 2015, so it's a great day and a great accomplishment," said Woods.
"It's a tremendous recognition and honor for Amanda, and not only for Amanda but for us as well as a school district," said Ragsdale.
If Dillard wins the title of Georgia's Teacher of the Year, she'll get to permanently keep the car that was leased to her at the Teacher of the Year pep rally.
Dillard received a new car as part of her Cobb Teacher of the Year recognition, thanks to Ed Voyles Automotive Group. If she wins Georgia's Teacher of the Year, she'll get to keep the new car instead of returning it after a year.
Woods explained that Cobb's Teacher of the Year — if named Georgia Teacher of the Year — would also receive a paid year off from teaching, during which she would travel, speak, and serve as the face of public education in Georgia.
Join us in congratulating Cobb's Teacher of the Year, Amanda Dillard, and wish her the best of luck as she competes for the opportunity to represent Cobb across the state and share why it’s the best place to teach, lead, and learn.
.jpg)
