A Night Among the Stars: Celebrating Atlanta Public Schools 2026-2027 APyeS! Honorees

Written by William Powell

Atlanta Public Schools 2026-2027 Teacher of the Year, Nichole Bennett. Photo credit: Jessica Mynatt, APS ©

Over 800 Atlanta Public Schools (APS) educators and support staff gathered at The Starling Atlanta Midtown on October 24 for one of the most anticipated celebrations of the year, the 2026-2027 APyeS! Awards. It was truly a night among the stars as we honored some of our incredible educators, leaders, and support staff who make APS shine. At APS, we believe our people are our greatest strength, and the APyeS! Awards give us an opportunity to celebrate our people whose dedication and excellence make a lasting difference for our students and schools every day.

We invite you to join us in celebrating our remarkable finalists and winners by watching the award videos below and learning more about their inspiring stories.

Teacher of the Year Finalists

Nichole Bennett, South Atlanta High School
Shawnika Davis, Springdale Park Elementary School
Taylor Jackson, John Lewis Invictus Academy

Congratulations to our 2026-2027 Teacher of the Year, Nichole Bennett!

Students First Award Finalists

Elizabeth Coyne, Tuskegee Airmen Global Academy
Natasha Rowell, Emma Hutchinson Elementary School
Tommy Walker, Frederick Douglass High School

Congratulations to our 2026-2027 Students First Award winner, Tommy Walker!

Schools First Award Finalists

Brent Bailey, Office of Equity & Social Justice
Jennifer Owens, Data Information Group
Leshandra Martin, Office of Human Resources

Congratulations to our 2026-2027 Schools First Award winner, Jennifer Owens!

Principal of the Year Finalists

Melanie Sithole, Tuskegee Airmen Global Academy
Octavius Harris, Daniel M. Therrell High School
Stacey Perot, Sarah Smith Elementary School

Congratulations to our 2026-2027 Principal of the Year, Melanie Sithole!

Assistant Principal of the Year Finalists

Darnisha Johnson, Lenora P. Miles Elementary School
Dwight Hudson, Bolton Academy
Jennifer Cappelli, Midtown High School

Congratulations to our 2026-2027 Assistant Principal of the Year, Dwight Hudson!

To all of our honorees, finalists, and winners, thank you for your unwavering commitment to serving students with excellence. Your passion, leadership, and dedication inspire us all. And to every APS team member, thank you for the important role you play in helping our students succeed. We are proud of you, grateful for you, and honored to celebrate your achievements.