DULUTH — Georgia Leadership Institute for School Improvement, a Georgia-based nonprofit organization, launched its fifth annual Hidden Heroes, a crowd-sourced statewide campaign. There were 20 Colquitt County education professionals nominated.

The local education professionals include Iesha Thompson, parent engagement coordinator at Stringfellow Elementary; Brittany Hundley, school counselor at W. J Williams Middle School; Symantha Buckridge, paraprofessional at Colquitt County High School; Angela Kling, school social worker at Sunset Elementary School (Sunset/G.E.A.R.); Jeffrey M. Horne, migrant coordinator and assistant federal programs director at Colquitt County School District Office; Sarah Harrell Thomason, teacher at Doerun Elementary School; and Barbie Simmons, 3rd -5th grades special education teacher at Sunset Elementary School.

They also include Blake Thomason, 7th grade social studies Teacher and Coach at Willie J. Williams Middle School; Tina Kay Zeigler, gifted teacher at Sunset Elementary School; Kati Strickland, principal at Funston Elementary; Willie Clayton, teacher at C.A. Gray Jr. High School; Crystal Bell, special education teacher, Packer Program at Colquitt County High School; Christina Scroggins, 8th Grade ELA ESOL Teacher at C.A. Gray Jr. High School; Amanda Conn, kindergarten teacher at JM Odom Elementary School; Katie Whitlatch, teacher at Hamilton Elementary; Avegene Moore, custodian at Cox Elementary; and Christina Lea Cox, kindergarten teacher at Hamilton Elementary.

The individuals were nominated on the Hidden Heroes website in October. Voting is taking place, now through Nov. 22, on hiddenheroes.glisi.org.

The nominees with the most votes will receive a cash prize, courtesy of campaign sponsors Kennesaw State University’s Bagwell College of Education, Georgia Power, and Parker Poe. Winners will be announced on Dec. 3, 2024.

“Teaching is the profession that makes every other profession possible. Not only is teaching a noble and rewarding way to make a living for a generation seeking purpose and meaning, it’s a role deserving of our collective respect,” said CEO and Executive Director of GLISI, Leslie Hazle Bussey, Ph.D. “What is most encouraging to me this year is we’re seeing early signs that young people are choosing education as a profession again. Some Georgia education programs are seeing increased enrollment and we proudly claim our part in the tapestry of efforts aimed at this goal.”