The Clarke County School District is pleased to announce Mr. Chris Batson of Clarke Middle School as its Teacher of the Year and Mr. Christian Barner of Clarke Central High School as its Support Professional of the Year for the 2024-25 school year. 

The winners were announced Thursday, Oct. 24, during the CCSD Teacher and Support Professional of the Year awards banquet at the University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education. In total, 45 people — building-level winners from each of CCSD’s schools and special programs that had eligible candidates according to the district’s selection criteria — were celebrated at the banquet by the district in partnership with the Foundation for Excellence in Public Education in Clarke County and presenting sponsor Georgia United Credit Union (GUCU). This year’s Teacher of the Year was also awarded $5,000 from Akins Ford, $1,500 from GUCU, and $1,000 from Heyward Allen Cadillac GMC. The Support Professional of the Year received $2,500 from GUCU. Both Mr. Batson and Mr. Barner also received a gift wagon filled with donations from local businesses. 

All of this year’s building-level winners submitted applications for the districtwide awards, and the Support Professional of the Year was chosen by a district committee based on those applications. The pool of Teacher of the Year applications was narrowed down to a field of three finalists — Mr. Batson, Ms. Tymisha Creightney of Burney-Harris-Lyons Middle School, and Ms. Barbara Gaertig of Hilsman Middle School — who were then evaluated through classroom visits and scored by a panel of judges on a rubric developed by the district. As Teacher of the Year, Mr. Batson will now represent CCSD in the statewide competition. 

“The two winners chosen to represent our district with these awards from among an extraordinary group of highly qualified educators and support staff truly embody our district’s mission of creating educational journeys that empower all students to fulfill their potential,” said Dr. Robbie Hooker, CCSD Superintendent. “The work they put in every day also underscores many of our key beliefs – that the success of each student is critical to the success of our entire community; that we are responsible for understanding the needs of our students and their families; and that learning occurs best in cultures where staff and students feel a sense of belonging, safety and support.” 

The winner of the Mae M. Whatley Teacher of the Year Award, Mr. Batson teaches sixth-grade social studies and has spent his entire 12-plus years in education to date at Clarke Middle. He is also the school’s Athletic Director, head girls’ soccer coach, serves on the School Improvement Leadership Team, and is a founding member of the school’s Restorative Culture Leadership Team. He had an impact on many youth prior to his time with CCSD as well, serving as a summer camp counselor with the Athens YMCA from 2009 to 2013.

Mr. Batson holds a bachelor’s degree in Middle Grades Education (English and Social Studies) and a master’s in Secondary Social Studies Education, both from the University of Georgia. 

“I believe that all students are capable of achieving, we just don't always find the path or avenue to get them hooked and see the relevance of what we are teaching to their own lives,” Mr. Batson wrote in his district award application. “The more we are consciously working to improve what we are teaching and funnel it through a student-focused lens, the better off all of our students will be.”

The winner of the Janis J. Stephens Support Professional of the Year Award, Mr. Barner has been with CCSD since 2006 when he joined Cedar Shoals High School as an English teacher. He moved across town to Clarke Central as an English teacher in 2012 — winning the school’s Teacher of the Year Award in 2015-16 — and has been in his current role as Academic Support Specialist and Family Engagement Specialist since 2018. Within his role, he leads the school’s PBIS (positive behavior and intervention supports) and attendance review teams, works with families to ensure they are informed and equipped to help support their students, and helps plan and supervise community events highlighting student achievement. He also maintains the school’s website, social media accounts, and family communications, is a member of the school leadership team, and is the faculty sponsor of the Clarke Central bass fishing team which he helped form in 2016. 

“I am extremely grateful to have a voice within many areas that improve the school and benefit our community,” Mr. Barner wrote in his application. “It is common for colleagues to say, ‘You do everything.’ This, of course, is not true, but I believe my greatest contribution has been establishing myself as someone teachers, students, leaders, and families can rely on for support. My experience has provided me with skills, connections, and knowledge to initiate projects and address schoolwide and individual concerns. I work to stay abreast of everything happening at the school in order to share information with our community, help others, and enact positive change.”