Georgia’s Teacher of the Year is busting barriers

H olly Starmer Witcher, '01, a special education teacher at Tesnatee Gap Elementary School in White County, is the 2025 Georgia Teacher of the Year. A 23-year teaching veteran, she was also named Teacher of the Year in two other school districts: Rockdale County in 2006 and White County in 2023.

Witcher was selected out of approximately 110,000 teachers to be the state's Teacher of the Year. She feels it's "a huge honor" to be selected and has been advocating for other Georgia teachers since her term began July 1, 2024.

"Having good administrators speaks volumes," Witcher said. "Sometimes they see something in you that you may not see in yourself. My administrators saw the way I interacted with these students and said, 'Hey, you've got this-you've already done this.'"

"It's so cool to see the changes in my students," she said. "When you're with the kids every day, sometimes you don't notice those improvements, but then you look back at the beginning of the year and you think, 'This child couldn't do this before.' It's a very rewarding career."

After Witcher was named the state's Teacher of the Year May 31, 2024, she had one month to transition her classroom to ensure her students are taken care of while she's out with her new duties.

Witcher is an ex officio member of the Georgia Board of Education, where she provides input during the meetings about how certain issues affect teachers and students.

This kind of representation at the Board of Education turned the tide in the way the organization works.

"I wish every teacher could see the things I get to see-the experience is phenomenal," Witcher said.

Her platform "You Matter," serves to remind teachers, administrators and community members what they're doing is important and affects lives. She aims to spread hope to all who serve Georgia's children.

"As teachers, we know our hearts are in it, but oftentimes we don't hear it enough," Witcher said. "The work we do impacts Georgia. We may not see the difference we've made for 20 years. But as these students get older, they'll say, 'Wow, I had you as a teacher.' I know I played a part in that."

"That message also goes for administration," she said. "I speak with superintendents and how their decisions impact students and teachers."

As a child, Witcher frequently gathered the neighborhood children, positioning them in a circle to play school. Her mother always knew Witcher would make a great teacher someday.

"I loved my teachers so much when I was growing up that I just wanted to be like them," she said. "I also loved school."

When Witcher attended Georgia College & State University, special education was not on her radar. Instead, she wanted to teach first graders how to read. But through the years, Witcher had special education students in her general education class, giving her the opportunity to co-teach and guide, providing them with one-on-one attention.

"I loved seeing the strategies used by the special education teacher," she said. "I also loved being challenged. There was always something different happening in the classroom."

After graduating from Georgia College with a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education, Witcher received and a master's from the American College of Education.

Once Witcher had her son, she took time off to raise him. Her principal suggested she get certified to teach students diagnosed with significant developmental delays.

"Once I got my foot in the door, I realized this is what I loved doing. I could transform these children, teaching them life skills and critical skills," she said. "I never looked back."

When her students overcome hurdles, they celebrate each other's accomplishments.

"In my class, we celebrate big, because the hurdles many students overcome are huge," Witcher said. "So, when we see them accomplish something new, we recognize them. It's so cool, because my students know one another and each other's struggles. When they see another student do something they've not done before, I'm not the only one celebrating. The other kids are cheering one another on too. I can't help but smile."

This collaboration prompts more success.

"I have the best job in the world," Witcher said. "And everybody says, 'You have a hard job.' It is, but it's absolutely the most rewarding to develop relationships with not just students, but their families, including their brothers and sisters because you must all be in it together."

Dr. Dee Russell was her favorite professor of Early Childhood Education at Georgia College.

"He walked alongside us to make us the best teachers possible," she said. "Dr. Russell taught me how to stop, think and reflect on things."

Witcher turned her papers in promptly, because she didn't want her assignments to be late. Russell would return them to make her think on the assignments for a few days and adjust where needed. He also taught her a strong, transferrable liberal arts tenet.

"Now, I'm good at processing information and being organized," Witcher said. "He also taught me how to think for myself and see situations from multiple angles. Spending two years with him was fantastic. I often think back on things he told us and use these tools today."

Witcher was also taught by former Georgia Teacher of the Year Sandra Worsham in her Early Literacy Class. She learned about the importance of language and vocabulary words from Worsham.

"Every day, I teach the strategies she taught me-playing with words, rhymes, riddles and other concepts," Witcher said.

She also learned how to become a leader at Georgia College-and uses these skills as Georgia's Teacher of the Year.

"I said, 'yes' to any campus opportunities that came up," Witcher said. "The student-led organizations I participated in had advisors to guide us. That prepared me for life and making independent decisions."

Witcher was in the Baptist Student Union and Kappa Delta Pi-the International Honor Society of Education, which focuses on leadership, scholarship and service. She also played flute in concert band and bass in jazz band.

During her senior year, Witcher pushed beyond her comfort zone to teach in Sweden. She was curious about education in other countries and how it compared to schools in the United States. Then, she used Swedish concepts to challenge the status quo in American schools.

"Even now, as we talk about different education policies and things in our schools, I think about how they're different from Sweden, and how they could be," Witcher said. "Saying 'yes' to leadership opportunities at Georgia College grew me as an individual in ways I had not anticipated."

In October, most of her time will be spent traveling throughout the state to speak for recognition programs and conferences. She has several speaking engagements for teachers and organizations like the Georgia Foundation for Public Education. She'll also present to the administrators at the Georgia Association of Educational Leaders Conference in January.

Witcher has been traveling, meeting other state teachers of the year and hearing their stories.

"Sometimes when you share, it just blooms something into you," Witcher said. "I'm enjoying seeing these people and listening to their heart-felt input. There's a lot of inspiration and encouragement out there."

In her down time, she's applying for the National Teacher of the Year. The winner will be announced in spring 2025.

Witcher is also preparing for the next contenders for District Teacher of The Year. She'll meet all the teachers who are being announced this fall as District Teachers of the Year. They'll learn to elevate their voice to explain what's happening and what's needed in their schools.

"I love partnering with teachers and the families of students to figure out how I can help them," Witcher said. "Many of my families have commented, 'My child will never …' or, 'I struggle to help …' I enjoy working alongside them, busting through those barriers."

"I just love making an impact on students and their families, period," she said. "There's something so contagious about being able to bring joy into the life of someone else."

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