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Newton County Schools announces three finalists for 2025 Teacher of the Year
Summary
Newton County Schools officials surprised three teachers at their schools to announce finalists for the district's 2025 Teacher of the Year. Finalists are Katrina Pollard of Eastside, Quanita Morrow of Ocovi High School and Kamara Whitening of Veterans Memorial; the winner will be named at a Sept. 17 ceremony.
Newton County Schools surprised three educators at their schools with news that they are finalists for the district's 2025 Teacher of the Year, district officials said. The finalists are Katrina Pollard of Eastside; Quanita Morrow, a marketing teacher at Ocovi High School; and Kamara Whitening, a middle school math teacher at Veterans Memorial. The district will name the Teacher of the Year at a ceremony on Wednesday, Sept. 17, at 5:30 p.m. at the Porter Performing Arts Center.
The finalists were notified in a series of in-person surprise visits led by Superintendent Dr. Duke Bradley and Board Chair Abigail Coggin, joined by district leaders. The outreach included balloons, flowers and family members waiting at each school to celebrate the announcements.
Katrina Pollard, who the district identified as representing Eastside, said she was honored to be named a finalist: "I'm really excited. I'm excited to represent Eastside. I'm excited to represent the school system. We have tremendous teachers in our community, and I'm just excited to teach alongside of them." The district's announcement message described the visits as an attempt to "catch each teacher completely off guard and make a memory they'll never forget."
Quanita Morrow, who the district said has taught marketing at Ocovi High School since 2022, responded: "I'm honestly speechless, but I am truly honored and humbled by this incredible achievement because I love what I do." Kamara Whitening, a former paraprofessional who has taught middle school math at Veterans Memorial since 2021, said: "I am utterly surprised. I had no idea that I was gonna win, and I'm just truly grateful. Truly, truly grateful. I love my kids." In a separate remark Whitening added, "I'll do anything for them, so thank you."
District officials asked the community to join the Teacher of the Year celebration on Sept. 17 at 5:30 p.m. at the Porter Performing Arts Center, where the top honor will be awarded. The announcement materials and on-site remarks did not specify selection criteria or the judging panel for the Teacher of the Year award.
