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Newton County Schools names Chandra Mitchell 2025 ‘Hero of the Year’ at first districtwide ceremony
Summary
Newton County Schools held its first districtwide hero award celebration April 1 at the Porter Performing Arts Center, honoring classified employees and naming Chandra Mitchell the 2025 hero of the year. Mitchell received a $1,000 check from the Newton Education Foundation.
Newton County Schools held its first districtwide hero award celebration on April 1 at the Porter Performing Arts Center, honoring classified employees and naming Chandra Mitchell the district’s 2025 “Hero of the Year.”
Superintendent Dr. Duke Bradley said the awards recognize staff whose work “may not always take center stage,” and praised custodians, bus drivers, paraprofessionals, nutrition staff and clerks for their everyday contributions to the district.
The evening included a reception with hors d’oeuvres prepared by culinary arts students from Newton College and Career Academy and live music by the Newton High School Jazz Ensemble. The program was hosted by Benjamin Rountree, who introduced the presentation of district-level honors after each school and division selected one employee to represent them as a 2025 hero.
“Each school and division selected one exceptional employee to represent them as their 2025 hero,” Rountree said as nominees were called to the stage. The district then announced Chandra Mitchell, administrative assistant and records clerk for the Newton County Schools Special Education Department, as the districtwide winner.
Mitchell accepted the recognition on stage and said, “I just give, like I said, I give all glory to God because we're all heroes in God's eye. I'm not the only hero. Newton County has heroes, heroes, heroes.”
To celebrate her impact, Mitchell was presented a $1,000 award from the Newton Education Foundation. The foundation’s sponsorship and the community gift were mentioned during the ceremony as a way to honor employees who work behind the scenes.
Superintendent Dr. Duke Bradley closed the program by saying he was proud of the district’s staff and described the evening as “a reminder of how many incredibly talented, hardworking, and dedicated faculty and staff we have right here in Newton County Schools.”
The ceremony marked the first districtwide iteration of the hero awards program; organizers described it as a chance to highlight classified staff roles that support daily operations across the system.
