A teacher from Lavonia Elementary School has been named the Franklin County School System’s 2026-2027 Teacher of the Year. School Superintendent Melanie Burton-Brown announced the Teacher of the Year at Monday’s convocation. In announcing him as the Lavonia Elementary Teacher of the Year Monday, school principal Kasey Haley said Matthews demonstrates what it means to be a great teacher through his attitude of service. Matthews has worked his entire16-year education career at Lavonia Elementary and tells WLHR News he “bleeds royal blue and kelly green.” LES teachers applaud Matthews for being named Teacher of the Year Starting as a Kindergarten teacher, Matthews then taught in the Early Intervention Program (EIP) and now is a teacher of English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). Matthews is a 2005 Franklin Co High School graduate and is married to Laurel Matthews. They have two children and attend Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, where he serves as the Student Pastor. Matthews is one of five Franklin County teachers of the year named at this school. The other four Teachers of the Year include: Each educator chosen exemplifies the high standards established by the Georgia Teacher of the Year program. They are leaders in their field who foster student growth, build strong relationships within their school communities, and engage in lifelong learning and innovation.
*This content (including text, artwork, graphics, photography, and video) was provided by the third party(ies) as referenced above. Any rights or other content questions or inquiries should be directed to such third-party provider(s).
