Print

Hall County Schools honors Teachers of the Year, retirees

By Lawson Smith Anchor/Reporter
Posted 9:30PM on Monday 12th May 2025 ( 19 hours ago )

The Hall County School District recognized over 100 educators and staff during its 2025 Night of Honor Monday night. 

The event honors each school’s Teacher of the Year and retirees from across the district. Of the 36 teachers who were presented with the TOTY award, two were the last to ever accept the honor on behalf of their schools. 

As McEver Arts Academy and Oakwood Elementary School prepare to close and merge into Everwood Elementary School, Kimberly Galvan and Taylor Riley reflected on their time at their respective schools. 

Galvan, a first-grade teacher at McEver, shared that being named the school's final Teacher of the Year holds sentiment, having also been a student there. 

“It's like a full circle closing,” Galvan said. “I came in third grade to McEver. I finished off at McEver. So to be working at McEver, to even have an impact on those students and now being recognized as teacher of the year, it's amazing.” 

Riley, who teaches fourth grade at Oakwood, emphasized that the educators who came before her inspire her love for education. 

“I'm extremely honored because I've just had so many teachers who have poured into me,” Riley said. “I was a student in Hall County. I give [my teachers] all the credit, because they poured into me, helped me to become the teacher that I am.” 

Both teachers will continue their careers at Everwood in the fall.

The event also saw the recognition of the first-ever Teacher of the Year from Sandra Dunagan Deal Elementary School.  The school opened for the 2024-25 academic year and combined Riverbend and White Sulfur elementary schools. 

SDDES kindergarten teacher Patricia Cole shared that as she and her colleagues worked to bring the two communities together, they remained dedicated to their students. 

“I love seeing kids grow. Being a kindergarten teacher, I have the kids who come in, some not even knowing how to hold a pencil, once they learn anything, that look in their eyes is so amazing.” 

Teachers of the Year are voted on by their peers each year. A full list of TOTY award winners and their schools is as follows: 

Several retirees were also recognized for their decades of service to education and to the school district. Among them was Sugar Hill Academy Principal Jennifer Deaton, who has worked in the system for 30 years. 

As Deaton reflected on her career with the district, she recalled beginning her role as principal during the pandemic. 

“It was interesting, as it made it very difficult to bond with teachers, parents and the community in general,” she said. “Just because we were teaching from home, and then we were in there with a mask. And to survive, that has been amazing. Hall County has been good to me.” 

East Hall High Principal Jeff Cooper will also retire at the end of the school year. Cooper was unable to attend the event, but was honored by HCSD officials. 

 
The Hall County School District honored over 100 teachers and staff during the 2025 Night of Honor on Monday, May 12, 2025.
Hall County Schools Superintendent Will Schofield, Oakwood Elementary School Teacher of the Year Taylor Riley and Hall County Board of Education Chair Craig Herrington.
Hall County Schools Superintendent Will Schofield, Sandra Dunagan Deal Elementary School Teacher of the Year Patricia Cole and Hall County Board of Education Chair Craig Herrington.
Hall County Schools Superintendent Will Schofield, McEver Arts Academy Teacher of the Year Kimberly Galvan and Hall County Board of Education Chair Craig Herrington.
Sugar Hill Academy of Talent and Career Principal Jennifer Deaton will retire at the end of the school year after 30 years with the district.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2025/5/1291122/hall-county-schools-honors-teachers-of-the-year-retirees

© Copyright 2015 AccessNorthGa.com All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission.