The Jones County School District Teacher of the Year event celebrated the school system’s brightest and best with the winner the first in her field to capture the honor.
At the end of the Oct. 9 event, Clifton Ridge Middle School Band Director Lori Johnson was named the 2026-27 Teacher of the Year for the district. School Superintendent Dr. Jessica Graves announced the winner after presenting each school’s teachers of the year with their awards.
“The judges all agreed; this was a tough job,” she stated.
Returning judge Rob Sumowski said each one of this year’s candidates were unique and could easily be chosen the district’s Teacher of the Year.
In addition to Johnson, the other 2026-27 Teachers of the Year were: Audie Newsome, Jones County High School; Katelyn McCain, Gray Station Middle School; Ellen Blaxton, Dames Ferry Elementary; Macy Skinner, Gray Elementary; Marissa Gowen, Turner Woods Elementary; Laura Terry, Mattie Wells Elementary; and Lauren Hoffman, Jones County Pre-K.
District winner
Lori Suzanne Johnson follows the path of her colleague Charm Mapp, also a teacher at CRMS, who went on to compete and is serving as the 2026-27 Teacher of the Year for the State of Georgia.
The band director was not comfortable with the spotlight, commenting that speaking in front of a crowd was her worst nightmare.
“Some principals decided to take a chance on me, straight out of college, and I’ve been in the same band room for 23 years,” she said.
In reality, Johnson has done anything but sit in the band room. She has the distinction of also having been named CRMS Teacher of the Year for 2016.
In an interview via email, Johnson said she attended Georgia College & State University, where she earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Music Education. She said she completed her student teaching experience by splitting my time between Califf Middle School and Jones County High School. Her teaching career at Clifton Ridge began in August 2004.
“And I’ve been fortunate enough to call CRMS home ever since,” she said.
The teacher grew up in Covington and attended Eastside High School. She said she joined the band as a sixth-grade student, and it quickly became something she absolutely loved.
“Music became such an important part of my life that I even had the honor of serving as the very first drum major of the Pride of Eastside Marching Band,” she said.
She added that, when considering careers, a teacher suggested figuring out her favorite class in school and then find a way to get paid to do that every day. Of course, band was her favorite class.
When asked her favorite part of teaching, she said it is really twofold.
“First, I absolutely love witnessing those wonderful ‘Aha’ moments when a student finally grasps a concept or masters something they’ve been working hard to accomplish,” she said. “There’s nothing quite like seeing that spark of understanding and the pride that follows.”
She said just as importantly she loves helping students discover that it is okay to make mistakes.
“Mistakes mean you’re trying, learning, and growing,” she said. “It’s okay to be bad at something for a little while because that’s simply part of the process of becoming good at it.”
Johnson said she wants her students to understand that learning something new takes patience, perseverance, and a willingness to keep trying, even when it’s difficult.
She said in her classroom, those lessons happen through learning to read music and play instruments.
“But I believe they extend far beyond the band room. Isn’t that really a lesson for just about everything in life?” she asked. “We have to be willing to jump in, take chances, and start somewhere. After all, we can’t be afraid to play a little ‘Hot Cross Buns’ today if we hope to play a symphony someday.”
Audie Newsome
Newsome attended Georgia College & State University and has a master’s of teaching from the University of Georgia. She has been teaching seven years. Newsome said teaching is far more than what happens inside the classroom and treasures watching students achieve goals they once thought were impossible. She said some of her greatest joys in teaching happen celebrating students outside the classroom.
Newsome said she did not grow up dreaming about being a teacher. It was actually an unexpected turn in her life, but it became one of her greatest blessings. She said for her it is not only a profession but also her ministry.
Katelyn McCain
McCain is in her 14th year teaching with three years at GSMS. She attended Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College and received a master’s in education from Georgia College and State University. She currently provides specialized instruction for students with emotional and behavioral issues. McCain is also a liaison between the school-level special education department and the district.
McCain has worked as an inclusion teacher and enjoys teaching on the middle-school level. She has taught in a variety of settings and loves building positive relationships with her students.
The teacher said she enjoys watching her students grow behaviorally and academically.
Ellen Blaxton
Blaxton has been teaching 17 years and has been in her current position for 10 years. She attended Georgia College & State University, where she also received her specialist degree in Special Education. She taught in Putnam County for two years before coming to Jones County. The teacher has been at DFES since 2017.
Blaxton began her career as a due process facilitator in a first-grade classroom but transitioned to the classroom to have more firsthand opportunities to work with students. She said her time as a Pre-K teacher further ignited her passion for teaching and desire to see students succeed.
Blaxton has been a special education teacher for 10 years and has worked with students from kindergarten through fifth grade. She said she has a passion for helping all students become successful and confident, build relationships and enjoy their time at school.
Macy Skinner
Skinner is a first-grade teacher at GES and is entering her eighth year in teaching. She attended Gordon State College, received her master’s at Valdosta State University, where she also received her specialist degree.
Skinner said she enjoys spending time with students, and one of her greatest passions is creating engaging, hands-on experiences that allow students to make meaningful connections in their own lives and learning. She said students learn best when they are engaged and encouraged to think creatively.
Marissa Gowen
Gowen has nine years of teaching experience and currently teaches fifth grade at TWES. She attended Georgia College & State University.
She is a mentor teacher, afterschool tutor, and lead organizer for Red Ribbon Week.
The teacher said she has striven to create learning environments throughout her career where students feel valued and supported. Gowen said she believes all the best teachers are lifelong learners, and she is committed to learning more each day from her colleagues and students.
Laurie Terry
Terry has been teaching for 30 years with 13 years in her current position as a Special Education teacher for third through fifth grades at Mattie Wells Elementary.
She attended Georgia College and State University and has a specialist degree in Leadership and Administration, master’s degrees in Interrelated Special Education and Leadership and Administration, bachelor of arts degree in Specific Learning Disabilities and an undergraduate degree from Mercer University.
Terry is a student-centered leader who has been recognized for fostering academic excellence, inclusivity and strict regulatory compliance. She currently serves as the PEC Department Chairman.
Lauren Hoffman
Hoffman has taught for 18 years, with 15 of those years in Pre-K. She attended Mercer University and received her master’s in education technology from Strayer University.
The teacher also has a specialist degree from the University of West Georgia and has been a lead teacher since 2017.
Hoffman specializes in working with children who are behaviorally challenged or emotionally dysregulated, using all her tools to help every student thrive. The teacher is a lifelong learner who brings her empathy, resilience and leadership beyond education, including adopting five children.
Whether presenting on behavioral interventions, emotional regulation or integrating technology into early learning, she brings authenticity, practical expertise and passion to every GaDOE speaking engagement.
