The 2024 District Teacher of the Year, Mary Ashley McCue from Lakeview Primary School, was recognized May 31 at the Georgia Department of Education (GaDOE) annual Teacher of the Year Gala.
The Teacher of the Year Program honors exceptional teachers across the state identified by their districts as teachers of the year by celebrating their work in and outside the classroom. McCue began her teaching journey in Baldwin County at Blandy Hills Elementary School and taught there for 20 years. She eventually would teach at Lakeview Primary School and has been there for seven years. She was named District Teacher of the Year by the Baldwin County School District in October at the local gala.
In October, McCue described being named District Teacher of the Year of the year as a “shock” but praised her district and expressed how “grateful” she was to have been given the title. As a District Teacher of the Year, McCue was one of many teachers to move on to the state competition.
“I’m nervous about going to state but I will do my very best for the Baldwin County School District and my community,” said McCue last October.
The state competition leads to the selection of the National Teacher of the Year finalist for Georgia. Run by the Council of Chief State School Officers, the National Teacher of the Year program honors teachers across the country identified by their states and territories as teachers of the year. The program offers a professional learning program that helps teachers amplify their instructional practices and encourages them to take part in policy discussions at the state and national level.
While McCue has become known and well-appreciated for her hands-on and experiential learning teaching, creative mindset, years of dedicated service to the district, and caring attitudes toward both the district and her wider community, she was not a finalist.
Christy Todd of Rising Starr Middle School was named the 2024 National Teacher of the Year finalist. However, the Baldwin County School District showed its appreciation and support for McCue and she received a trophy of an apple inscribed with “Teacher of the Year” and a certificate of recognition at the gala.
Many people shared their congratulations to McCue on the Baldwin County School District Facebook Page under a small collage of photos from the gala.
“Teaching is all about passion. Loving what you do makes the job more impactful,” said McCue.