Savannah‑Chatham County names Sam Sax teacher of the year; Lauren Evans and Alana McMullen also honored

The Savannah‑Chatham County Public School System honored three educators as district awardees for 2027, naming Sam Sax Teacher of the Year, Lauren Evans Instructional Support Person of the Year, and Alana McMullen Principal of the Year. The recognition took place during a district program; the transcript does not specify a date.

Sam Sax, introduced as the 2027 Teacher of the Year, spoke about his approach to the classroom and his broader involvement in the school community. "I think that you can see my passion. I think that every day I show up and I try my hardest. I'm involved in many different things, so I don't just stay in my classroom, but I get my hands involved in everything I can," Sax said. He added that he has been telling himself all year that he "can do hard things," and described teachers' work as learning to juggle multiple responsibilities.

Lauren Evans, identified as an academic coach at the Savannah‑Chatham E‑Learning Academy and named Instructional Support Person of the Year, said recognition reflected the many staff who support students. "Being in the school system for all these years, you put a lot into what you do... For me to be recognized is just so exciting for me because I think it represents the people who have breathed into me and education as well," Evans said, thanking secretaries, principals, students and fellow teachers. The district also said Evans will serve on the Superintendent's Professional Senate and represent instructional support staff at regular board sessions.

Evans described a personal motivation for advocacy: she said she had been inspired years earlier by her brother Nick, who had Down syndrome and has died, and that that experience helped shape her commitment to speaking up for students who need extra support. "I've always liked the chance to speak up and advocate... whether that's my little brother I grew up with... or whether that's a student who needed my extra support and didn't have someone to speak up for him or her," she said.

Alana McMullen was named the 2027 Principal of the Year. Remarks shared by a speaker emphasized leadership that empowers staff and students: "None of this can be done unless you empower the people that you support. Empower your students, empower the staff, and they will rise to every occasion," the speaker said.

District remarks thanked teachers, staff members, custodians, bus drivers and administrative secretaries for their daily teamwork in supporting students. The program closed with the presenter saying, "For SCCPSS, I'm Ken Slats," acknowledging the district as the host of the recognition.

The transcript does not record award selection criteria, which schools the winners teach or lead, or the date of the program. Those details were not specified in the provided transcript.