The Melvin Douglas and Victoria Kay Ivester Foundation honored the Gainesville City and Hall County School Teachers of the Year Tuesday.
Each year, all schools from both school systems name a Teacher of the Year, one of which is selected to be the district-wide Teacher of the Year. That teacher is then presented with $10,000 from the Ivester Foundation. Teachers who are named at their school are also presented with a $500 award.
“For [the foundation], [the award] is just a way to honor teachers, because they are such a special part of our community,” Doug Ivester told AccessWDUN. “…We think the teachers are wonderful, and they deliver day in and day out for the citizens of Hall County and the Students of Hall County…keep up the good work.”
Gainesville City Schools honored the 2025 and 2026 teachers of the year. 2024-25 Enota Multiple Intelligence Academy Kindergarten Teacher Amanda Secunda explained what receiving the title means to her as a graduate of Gainesville High School.
“I’ve been teaching in the system for 16 years now,” Secunda said. “So getting bestowed this honor was extra special.”
Meanwhile, GCSS’ 2025-26 Teacher of the Year, third grade teacher Chandler Reed, also at Enota, shared why she loves teaching.
“I just truly love pouring my heart into my students every single day and just watching them turn into champions,” Reed said. “And so I’m just very passionate about my job, and so getting this recognition, I’m so thankful, and I’m thankful for the people that pour into me so that I can pour into my students.”
GCSS recognized two teachers because they previously did not name a new Teacher of the Year in 2020.
Cherokee Bluff Middle School Chorus teacher Emily Allison was named Hall County Schools’ Teacher of the Year. Allsion said she is inspired by the educators who have come before her.
“I’ve spent my career surrounded by really phenomenal educators, and I don’t necessarily think I’m anything different, but it does feel like quite an honor and a recognition for all of the hard work,” Allison said. “It is overwhelming, but in a really good way, and so I’m just very appreciative of our community and the Hall County Schools and all of my students and my building, because I don’t think it’s just me that wins. I think it is a collection of all of those people together.”
At the recognition ceremony, The Ivester Foundation also announced that Teachers of the Year at individual schools will now receive a $1,000 reward during the next round of selections.
Additionally, the Ivester Foundation awards Staff Members of the Year at each school with a $300 reward.
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