Robin Porter named Carroll County Teacher of the Year; 25 school-level winners honored

Carroll County Board of Education members and guests honored 25 school- and program-level Teachers of the Year and named Villarrica High School computer science teacher and esports coach Robin Porter the Carroll County Teacher of the Year for 2026–27.

Assistant Superintendent Jared Griffiths opened the celebration and read winners by cluster. He said each recipient would receive an engraved Carroll County Schools paperweight and gifts from community partners. Griffiths announced the runner-up and winner awards: the runner-up received $400 from the 24 Strong Educational Foundation and $500 from Carroll County Schools; the winner will receive $600 from the 24 Strong Educational Foundation, $1,000 from Carroll County Schools and a $1,000 annual supplement while they remain employed by Carroll County Schools.

Stanley Clark, Central High School agricultural education teacher and FFA advisor and this year's county Teacher of the Year speaker, praised finalists for blending instruction, leadership and care for students. "A teacher of the year finalist...brings this kind of heart and skill into the classroom every single day," Clark said, adding that the work "lives in the lives that you have touched and the futures you have shaped."

Griffiths read the full list of school-level winners by cluster; the transcript lists cluster winners including Bowden cluster winners Amanda Wilson, Marnie Chaffin and Tiffany Merrill; Central cluster winners Jennifer Pascoe, Sierra Poski, Britney Braden, Whitney Stringer and Katie Wilson; Mount Zion cluster winners Jessica Patterson, Andrea Teal and Anna Aldridge; Temple cluster and Villarrica cluster winners; several CCA winners; and other school-level recipients. Laura Harris of Ithaca Elementary was announced as the runner-up before Porter was named county winner.

The ceremony concluded with a brief intermission before the board continued regular business.