Enjoy the self-advancing photo slideshow from the 2026 Exemplary ESOL Teacher and Student Awards. Photo credit: Jessica Mynatt, APS ©
Atlanta Public Schools (APS) has recognized two members of its English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program with honors from the Georgia Department of Education.
Annually, one exemplary English learner and one exemplary ESOL teacher from participating school districts are acknowledged. This year, APS selected Debbie Allen Settles of Garden Hills Elementary School as its 2026 Exemplary ESOL Teacher.
Settles, a second-grade English Dual Language Immersion teacher, has served APS for 40 years, including 26 years as an ESOL educator. She was surprised by the announcement during a faculty meeting after being nominated by Garden Hills principal Dante Edwards.
German Suarez, Debbie Allen-Settles, Dr. Margaret McKenzie, and Dante Edwards. Photo credit: Jessica Mynatt, APS ©
Settles has made a lasting impact on generations of multilingual learners by helping students embrace their cultures and home languages while developing English proficiency.
“Everybody in the district ESOL program knows Ms. Settles. She is an icon,” APS director of Multilingual Programs and Services Dr. Margaret Mackenzie said. “She comes to professional learning experiences with positive energy, ready to learn. She’s an inspiration to others. She’s ‘Mama Settles,’ and it’s her ability to continue inspiring other teachers that really makes her stand out.”
Settles said her passion for supporting English learners began early in her career.
“I was working at E.L. Connally Elementary in Southwest Atlanta, and I got the opportunity to come [to Garden Hills Elementary School] to teach summer school,” Settles said. “When I met children from different countries and saw their zeal and passion for learning, I wanted to learn more about the ways and traditions I could use to help them become even better at what they do.”
At Garden Hills, multilingual learning is central to the school’s culture. Approximately 40% of families are Spanish-speaking, and half of the student population participates in the Dual Language Immersion program.
“The goal really is for everybody on the campus, before they leave and go to middle school, to be bilingual,” Principal Edwards said. “That’s the ultimate goal.”
Settles is a big part of making that goal a reality. She attributes her success to focusing on the reward of seeing her students grow and succeed.
“What inspires me now is to see the growth in the children from when they start to when they get to fifth grade, and when they come back and say, ‘Thank you, Ms. Settles,’” she said.
APS 2026 Exemplary ESOL Student Kimberly Centeno-Torres. Photo credit: Jessica Mynatt, APS ©
APS also honored Kimberly Centeno-Torres, a class of 2026 graduate of Coretta Scott King Young Women’s Leadership Academy (CSK), as its Exemplary ESOL Student, for her academic achievement, leadership, and service.
During her senior year, she excelled in honors and Advanced Placement courses while running her own nail spa. She also served as battalion commander in JROTC and has enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve with plans to serve on active duty.
“I really enjoyed doing ROTC while in high school,” Centeno-Torres said. “It was always something I wanted to do when, in ninth grade, I told myself I would join the military.”
Dr. Mackenzie said her altruism is one of the qualities that set her apart.
“We really admired Kimberly’s dreams,” Dr. Mackenzie said. “We were also inspired by the fact that she helps others. When newcomers and new students arrived at CSK, she worked with them, showing them around the school and explaining how it works. She also spent time helping to beautify the campus.”
Together, Settles and Centeno-Torres represent the positive impact of the ESOL program and the success of multilingual learners and educators across the district. For more information on the ESOL Program, please visit www.atlantapublicschools.us.
