MOULTRIE, GEORGIA – July 31, 2026 – The 2026-2027 school year kicked off with a convocation for all district employees on Friday, July 31, 2026. The Teacher of the Year and BRAVO Employee of the Year were announced as part of the convocation ceremony. Mrs. Tammy Middlebrooks of Cox Elementary was named the Teacher of the Year, and Mrs. Lori Linnenkohl of Hamilton Elementary was named the BRAVO Employee of the Year.
Mrs. Tammy Middlebrooks has worked in education for 25 years and currently teaches 5th-grade writing at Cox Elementary. She shares, "I am extremely humbled by this nomination for Teacher of the Year. It is a privilege to be recognized for having a positive impact on my students. My expectations for my students are the same as for myself: work hard and never give up. As Colossians 3:23 says, 'Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for man." Mrs. Middlebrooks and her husband, Billy Gene, are blessed with three children and nine grandchildren. The other District Teacher of the Year Award finalists were Amy Gray Dalton of Norman Park Elementary and Chelsea Whiddon of R.B. Wright Elementary.
Mrs. Lori Linnenkohl is the School Librarian and School Communications Specialist at Hamilton Elementary. She has been in the district for 14 years. She shared, "Being named the BRAVO winner is such an honor. Hamilton is a special community, and I feel blessed to work with people and students I consider family. I love witnessing the transformation in our youngest learners, and when a child gets hooked on a series, and that excitement spreads like wildfire, it reminds me why I love what I do." Lori and he husband, Whit, have two children: Ty (Colquitt County High School) and Ansley (Willie J. Williams). The other BRAVO award finalists included Taffee Redding of Doerun Elementary and William Madison of G.E.A.R/Support Services.
Thanks to the community's generosity, Mrs. Middlebrooks and Mrs. Linnenkohl each received a gift basket from local merchants and the Colquitt County Chamber of Commerce, a one-year YMCA membership, a custom Employee of the Year ring from Herff Jones/Bowen Grad, and a check for $6,500. Superintendent Dan Chappuis shared, "On behalf of our Board of Education and leadership team, I want to extend our sincere gratitude to our sponsors, school communities, and the selection committees. Your commitment to celebrating excellence in education is ONE of the things that makes this district so special."
Schools selected their nominees for the district award at the end of the last school year. Each nominee and finalist received a gift bag of items and a monetary prize from the district. A panel of outside judges reviewed all the nomination packets over the summer to select this year's winners.
Representatives for Teacher of the Year
Paxton Crosby, Colquitt County High School
Tammy Middlebrooks, Cox Elementary
Courtney Amador Clayton, Doerun Elementary
Anna Johnson, Funston Elementary
Elizabeth Briggs, G.E.A.R
Roger Jefferson, C.A. Gray Junior High
Megan Baker, Hamilton Elementary
Amy Gray Dalton, Norman Park Elementary
Justin Liles, J.M. Odom Elementary
Brennen Maxwell, Okapilco Elementary
Erika Sikes, Stringfellow Elementary
Leslie Blease, Sunset Elementary
Elizabeth Kennedy, Vereen
Bryson Thomas, Willie. J. Williams Middle
Chelsea Whiddon, R.B. Wright Elementary
Representatives for BRAVO Employee of the Year
Julie Autrey, Colquitt County High School
Akeiba Barge, Cox Elementary
Taffee Redding, Doerun Elementary
Kaci Sparkman, Funston Elementary
William Madison, G.E.A.R./Support Services
Joshua Sims. C.A. Gray Junior High
Lori Linnenkohl, Hamilton Elementary
Terry Summerlin, Norman Park Elementary
Anita Rojas, J.M. Odom Elementary
Jessica Hancock, Okapilco Elementary
Tanya Monts, Stringfellow Elementary
Angela Hall, Sunset Elementary
Marcy Knajdek, Vereen
Hellen Farrell, Willie J. Williams Middle
Tracie Yarbrough, R.B. Wright Elementary
Tamika S. Williams, Transportation