Rachel Kinsaul, an agricultural science teacher at Morgan County High School, is the 2026 Georgia Teacher of the Year. State School Superintendent Richard Woods announced the selection at a banquet held May 30 at Lanier Islands to celebrate all District Teachers of the Year.

“Rachel Kinsaul opens up possibilities for her students every day – in agriculture and beyond,” Superintendent Woods said. “She is a standout example of the hands-on learning opportunities that Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education opens up and the life-changing power of an excellent teacher in the classroom. I know she will be an incredible advocate for public education in the state of Georgia and will shine a light on the rich opportunities our K-12 schools provide.”

As an agricultural educator, Rachel Kinsaul believes that preparing her students to be productive community members is her most important job. She focuses her efforts on pushing students to find the best versions of themselves by becoming community leaders through agricultural education.

Kinsaul is committed to providing project-based learning (PBL) opportunities for her students. She created a floral design class, through which her students have gained real-world experience by managing a monthly floral arrangement subscription program and providing arrangements for real weddings in the local community.

“Students work together to build a product,” Kinsaul wrote in her application for Georgia Teacher of the Year. “Students are learning the principles of design, color theory, and mechanics of flower arrangements, but they’re also learning how to be successful in a group. Students are challenged to work in different groups, learn about different classroom personalities, capitalize on each other’s strengths, and get the job done. In my classroom, we all work together to accomplish a common goal.”

She serves as the Morgan County High School National FFA Organization Chapter Advisor, training competitive teams and assisting members in developing student-led agricultural projects. Rachel and her husband, Jason, were named the 2019 Georgia Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Winners for Excellence in Agriculture and placed in the top ten nationally. She serves as the Morgan County Farm Bureau President and is a member of the Madison-Morgan Conservancy Board of Directors.

Kinsaul holds a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture and a Master of Science in Agriculture from the University of Georgia and was recently named the 2025 College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences Outstanding Alumni. She is also a 2025 recipient of the Milken Educator Award, known as the Oscars of Education.

As Georgia Teacher of the Year, Kinsaul will serve as an advocate for public education in Georgia, speaking to the public about the teaching profession and serving as an ex-officio member of the State Board of Education. She will also participate in the competitive selection process for the 2026 National Teacher of the Year.

Runner-Up: Jade Thomas, Houston County

Jade Thomas teaches social studies and English language arts to fourth graders at Lake Joy Elementary School in Houston County. She prioritizes creating a classroom environment where students are welcomed, loved, and fully engaged in learning every day. She served as an active-duty Marine from 2007 to 2015, and her military experiences led her to become a cofounder of the school’s Military Kids Club. Thomas holds a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood and Childhood Education from Niagara University, a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction: Elementary Education from Liberty University, and a Specialist in Education with an endorsement in English as a Second or Other Language (ESOL) from Mercer University. As the runner-up, Thomas will serve as an ex-officio member of the board of the Georgia Foundation for Public Education.

2026 Georgia Teacher of the Year Finalists

Finalists are listed alphabetically by last name, except for the Teacher of the Year and Runner-Up

Rachel Kinsaul, 2026 Georgia Teacher of the Year – Morgan County High School, Morgan County

Jade Thomas, 2026 Runner-Up – Lake Joy Elementary School, Houston County

Christie Akers, Northside High School, Muscogee County

Chuck Garner, Rockdale Magnet School, Rockdale County

Taylor Moody, Newton College and Career Academy, Newton County

Brandi Neal, McDonough High School, Henry County

Laura Ray, Berrien Elementary School, Berrien County

Jenny Ritchotte, Camden Middle School, Camden County

Beth Taylor, Varnell Elementary School, Whitfield County

Tracey Woodcock, Lee County High School Ninth Grade Campus, Lee County