College of Education

By Mike CavaliereThe Georgia Professional Standards Commission hosted the inaugural Teacher Pipeline Summit today at Georgia College & State University, in Milledgeville, with the goal of addressing the critical need for K-12 teachers throughout the state. Organized by Gov. Brian Kemp, the summit tasked education leaders to design a plan to elevate the profession and attract new teachers to the field by providing multiple career pathways, as well as boosting teacher retention.“We cannot...

By Margaret SchellFor students with disabilities, the world looks a little brighter thanks to researcher Logan Roberts (’19), who is passionate about leveling the playing field for people with disabilities and improving their lives and treatment.After graduating from Georgia College & State University with a bachelor’s in special education, Roberts participated in Teach for America, an AmeriCorps national service network program. This two-year commitment turned into three for Roberts...

Holly Starmer Witcher, ’01, a special education teacher at Tesnatee Gap Elementary School in White County, is the 2025 Georgia Teacher of the Year. A 23-year teaching veteran, she was also named Teacher of the Year in two other school districts: Rockdale County in 2006 and White County in 2023. Witcher was selected out of approximately 110,000 teachers to be the state’s Teacher of the Year. She feels it’s “a huge honor” to be selected and has been advocating for other Georgia teachers...

Superintendent of Lee County Schools Dr. Kathleen Truitt gave a keynote commencement address at her alma mater, Georgia College & State University.She told students graduating from university’s College of Education that she was “dumbfounded” when asked by GCSU President Cathy Cox to speak at commencement. “I am simply a regular person and what would I have to really offer you at such a pivotal moment,” Truitt said. “And then it occurred to me, maybe just maybe I could share how a regular...

Despite life’s obstacles, Seticia Smith, ’10, ’12, ’17, has given 110% in the classroom. And the Baldwin County School District noticed. She’s the 2022 Baldwin County Teacher of the Year, a seventh-grade mathematics teacher, department chair and family engagement coordinator at Oak Hill Middle School. Smith is also a survivor of breast cancer and a heart attack. Yet, she puts her students first.  The Baldwin County School District nominated six teachers for Teacher of the Year. Smith...

Lucas Newton, ’12, believes outdoor education is more important than ever, considering most students were stuck learning behind a computer during the COVID-19 pandemic.  He is the director of Kanuga’s Mountain Trail Outdoor School—a 1,400-acre outdoor classroom located in Hendersonville, North Carolina. Newton is in charge of their educational programs, budgeting, risk management and hiring and training of staff. He has facilitated outdoor experiences for students/campers since 2003...