Atlanta Public Schools hosted the 2023 ApyeS Awards Gala at the Atlanta Marriot Marquis’ Atrium Ballroom. The district’s staff and their families gathered to honor 20 award recipients. Among them were the 2023-2024 District Excellence in Teaching award winner, 2023-2024 Principal of the Year award winner, and the 2023-2024 Assistant Principal of the Year award winner. Check out this video for highlights from the monumental evening. Click here for a list of all the recipients.
APS Family, please join me in congratulating the 2022 – 2023 winners in our annual APyeS! Awards.
From the Booker T. Washington High School, our deserving district-wide Teacher of the Year is Candace R. Henry, a veteran science educator, who leads with vibrance and with compassion.
And, the award for Principal of the Year went to David A. White, now in his seventh year of leadership at Burgess-Peterson Academy. David has been a part of our APS team for 25 years, and has served with distinction in many roles and at many levels.
True to tradition, this yearās APyeS! Awards Gala showcased the unbridled talent, ongoing excellence, and unwavering dedication in the staff of Atlanta Public Schools.
Emmy Award winning comedian and radio personality Ryan Cameron and I played host to a dazzling audience of APS educators, leaders, support staff, and dedicated partners who held the spotlight at last Saturdayās event, in the beautiful ballroom of the Atlanta Marriott Marquis.
Our award winners embody the best of us. They are our shining examples of commitment, passion, and servant leadership, joining forces to positively impact student achievement and sustain our momentum in this milestone 150th anniversary year.
I was impressed with our Teacher of the Yearās moving remarks as she graciously accepted this yearās top honor. She was clear that the torch she now carries as our district level Teacher of the Year is lighting the way for all APS students, alongside those of her fellow educators, who show up and perform with distinction each and every day.
As the APS Teacher of the year, Ms. Henry will represent APS in the Georgia Teacher of the Year Awards next spring.
We welcomed two new categories to our APyeS Awards roll this year: Pre-K Teacher of the Year and the Service First Award. These awards recognize and honor the critical groundwork of our Pre-K teachers, in providing a solid foundation for early learners, as well as the diligence and professionalism of the many many support professionals providing essential services across our campuses, in non-teaching roles.
The inaugural award for APS Pre-K Teacher of the Year went to Ashley Lockett-Davis of Cleveland Avenue Elementary School, and our Service First Award went to, none other than, Clifford A. Jones, Building Manager in our Operations Division!
Because of the collective work of outstanding APS employees, scholars in our district are achieving breakthroughs!
Congratulations again to all our nominees, finalists, and winners! Here is a roundup of the 2022 ā 2023 APyeS Awardees:
| Teacher of the Year | Candace Henry, Booker T. Washington High School |
| Principal of the Year | David White, Burgess Peterson Academy |
| Pre-K Teacher of the Year | Ashley Lockett-Davis, Cleveland Avenue Elementary School |
| Assistant Principal of the Year | Mary Benton, Mary Lin Elementary School |
| Students First Award | Azure Walker, West Manor Elementary School |
| Schools First Award | Dr. Valencia Beckley Hildreth, Director of Comprehensive Health Services |
| Service First Award | Clifford A Jones, Building Services Manager, Center for Learning and Leadership |
| GO Team Leader of the Year | Dr. Andrew Lovett, Principal, Benteen Elementary School |
| GO Team of the Year | Price Middle School, Led by Principal Luqman Abdur-Rahman |
| Family Engagement Award (Schools) | The BEST Academy Family Engagement Leadership Team, Led by Principal Dr. Timothy Jones |
| Family Engagement Award (Parent) | Ms. Consuelo Hutchings, J.W. Dobbs Elementary School |
| Family Engagement Award (Community Partner) | Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students |
| District Partner of the Year | Family First Credit Union |
| Cluster Partners of the Year | Carver Cluster ā Central of Faith Church of God in Christ |
| Douglass Cluster ā Deloitte | |
| Midtown Cluster ā The Eisenberg Firm | |
| Jackson Cluster ā RSJI Education Group at the Temple | |
| Mays Cluster ā Chick-Fil-A Cascade Road | |
| North Atlanta Cluster ā Second Ponce De Leon Baptist Church | |
| South Atlanta Cluster ā Witherite Law Group | |
| Therrell Cluster ā United Parcel Service (UPS) | |
| Washington Cluster ā Grape Roots |
I have a few thank youās to give!
Our very own Eric Giles, Music Teacher at Peyton Forest Elementary School, delivered a masterful treat on saxophone to usher in the mood for the evening.
Students from Long Middle School, North Atlanta High School, and South Atlanta High School punctuated the event with spectacular tributes in dance.
The Gritz and Jelly Butter Band entertained with hit after hit through dinner and after the ceremony.
To our sponsors – Four Seasons Atlanta, Thompson Hotel, Atlanta Ballet, Family First Credit Union, Slater Hospitality ā The Roof at Ponce City Market, Atlanta Hawks, Atlanta Influences Everything, Cirque du Soleil, and Home Depot Backyard – a BIG thank you! Your partnership made this celebration possible.
And finally, to our team behind the scenes, your months of hard work have paid off! Thank you for all you do.
The 2022 APyeS Awards Gala was truly a night with our STARS!
ByĀ Erica Fatima
On Friday, January 15, the Georgia Association of Secondary School Principals (GASSP) announced Atlanta Public Schoolsā very own, Stephanie Johnson, Ed.S, as a finalist for this yearās Principal of the Year.
Stephanie Johnson, Principal Maynard H. Jackson HS
Principal Johnson joins a distinguished list of finalists that include:
- Dr. Julia Daniely, Westside Pre-Engineering High School, Bibb County
- Dr. Sean Kelly, Chapel Hill High School, Douglas County
- Susan Opferman—Webb Bridge Middle School, Fulton County
- Dr. Gene Starr—Appling County High School, Appling County
āThis is an honor to be named as a finalist among such an illustrious group of candidates,ā Johnson said. āMy passion to ensure that each student actualizes their highest potential is fueled by an earnest hope that I am providing them with the tools necessary for success.ā
The Principal of the Year program recognizes principals that excel in educational leadership, resolving complex problems, developing self and others and community service. The application is an extensive review of the performance of each applicant and their schools. Each finalist will participate in a final interview process in Athens to determine the Georgia Principal of the Year.
The program is sponsored by the National Association of Secondary School Principals, the Georgia Association of Secondary School Principals and Association Member Benefit Advisor (AMBA). The Georgia winner will represent the state in the competition for National Principal of the Year.
GASSPās 1,300 members across Georgia are extremely proud of the finalists Melton Callahan, executive director of GASSP and JoAnn Bartoletti, executive director of NASSP also offered their congratulations to those principals who personify excellence in providing quality leadership to their school communities.