10/22/2026
Mount Zion Middle School - Carroll County media specialist Alyson Monroe is the Carroll County Schools Teacher of the Year.
Monroe has dedicated her entire six-year career in public education to the students and families of the Mount Zion community, first as a teacher at Mount Zion Elementary and now as media specialist at Mount Zion Middle.
Monroe has completely rearranged and reworked the media center, dedicating countless hours to transforming the library into an engaging, dynamic environment where students connect and develop a profound love for reading.
Monroe’s passion for student involvement is mirrored in her extracurricular leadership, where she designs the MZMS yearbook and leads the expanding TOMES Reading Club. Since joining MZMS, Monroe has elevated the club's presence through the Reading Bowl competition and provided the opportunity for her TOMES members to attend TOMECON at the University of Georgia entirely free of charge, thanks to community partnerships.
“Mrs. Monroe's unwavering dedication and work ethic is what sets her apart. She gives her very best to every responsibility she undertakes and approaches challenges with a positive attitude,” MZMS Assistant Principal Tewanna Brown said in a recommendation letter. “She exemplifies servant leadership and consistently places the needs of students and the school at the center of her work.”
Monroe demonstrates her commitment to lifelong learning through continued professional development including National STEM Certification, reading endorsement, and gifted endorsement, as well as graduating from the school district’s Aspiring Leaders program in 2024. Equipped with these diverse skills, Monroe finds meaningful ways to lead within her building: uplifting her students, empowering her colleagues, and strengthening partnership with families and the larger community.
“We are so proud to celebrate with Mrs. Monroe and all of our school-level teachers of the year,” Superintendent Dr. Jessica Ainsworth said. “Mrs. Monroe is a wonderful example of a media specialist who knows she is still a teacher. The work she has done to transform the media center at Mount Zion Middle into a place where students connect with reading and each other is powerful and inspiring. We look forward to her representing us at the state level.”
Monroe was announced as the winner Thursday, October 22 at a celebration for all 25 school-level Carroll County School System teachers of the year. Community representatives who served as judges, sponsors of the Teacher of the Year event, school and system representatives and board of education members attended the event as a part of the evening’s board meeting.
The Teacher of the Year competition begins each year when each school’s faculty selects a school winner. All school winners complete a written application which is reviewed by a panel of community judges. The panel of judges selects finalists and does final evaluations including video of the finalists teaching.
Finalists who were announced in September were Monroe, Bay Springs Middle School teacher Kaleb Hyatt, and Villa Rica Middle School teacher Lauren Wells. This year’s community judges were Jimmy Garrett and Teresa Pope.
“Tonight’s Teacher of the Year ceremony serves as an excellent occasion to honor many of our district’s top educators. Their steadfast commitment to positively impacting students' lives is very evident in their daily practice. I want to express congratulations to the distinguished honorees for their exemplary service and dedication,” Assistant Superintendent Jared Griffis said. “Teachers of the Year exhibit relentless dedication to student success, educational innovation, and community impact. The district extends its deepest gratitude to all of our Teachers of the Year for their exceptional efforts.”
The Teacher of the Year celebration was supported by premier sponsors: Carroll County Association of Educators, 24STRONG Educational Foundation, 3:16 Healthcare, The Southern Credit Union, J&R Construction, Southern A&E, Fastenal, Smith Wallace & Scott Law Firm, and Southern Cleaning Services.
