Finalists Announced for Marietta City Schools 26-27 Teacher of the Year

MARIETTA, Ga. – The three finalists for Marietta City Schools' 2026-2027 Teacher of the Year have been announced:

• Monica Cameron: Marietta Middle School, Math Teacher
• Maggie Gilbert: Sawyer Road Elementary, Reading Specialist
• Rachel Maddox: West Side Elementary, Fourth Grade Teacher

Cameron, a military veteran, joined MCS in 2023 as a Math teacher at Marietta Middle School (MMS). During her time at MMS,  Cameron has been named New Outstanding Employee of the Year in 2024 and MMS Teacher of the Year for the 2025-2026 school year. When asked what influenced her to become a teacher, Cameron said, "I entered the profession with a clear mission: to mentor, inspire, and lead students by building meaningful relationships that support both academic and personal growth."

Gilbert began her career with MCS in 2015 as a second-grade teacher at Sawyer Road Elementary. During her time at MCS, Gilbert has been nominated for the Rose Wing Teacher of Promise award and received the Teacher Hero and GEM awards for Sawyer Road Elementary. When asked what she considered to be her greatest contributions to or accomplishments in education, Gilbert said, "I think of the students who have overcome challenges and blossomed as learners. However, my greatest accomplishment has been modeling perseverance through difficult times with grace, caring, and an open mind," following a cancer diagnosis in 2023.

Maddox joined MCS in 2022 as a fourth-grade teacher at West Side Elementary. During her time at MCS, Maddox has been named Outstanding New Employee at West Side Elementary in 2023 and the 2025 HERO Award Recipient. When asked what influenced her to become a teacher, she drew on her own childhood, saying, "Ultimately, I became a teacher to connect; to notice the anxious child, the one who is people-pleasing, the one who needs a little tough love to see their potential, and the one carrying worries far too heavy for their age. I teach so students know they are seen, safe, and valued because sometimes school is the one place where that matters most. And, I became a teacher to be a positive, trustworthy adult for young, precious hearts and minds who are often exposed to far too many negative influences in today's world. I teach to safeguard childhood, sprinkling in magical moments every day to keep it alive."

Teachers of the Year are nominated by their peers and then selected through an intensive application, observation, and interview process. This prestigious recognition highlights those teachers who inspire students to "Be Somebody" by creating an environment of individuality, aspiration, and empowerment. It's not just about academic success but also about nurturing students to develop a strong sense of self, a critical understanding of the world, and the confidence to contribute positively to their communities.