The Fannin County School System’s 2026 Teachers of the Year are Terry Flowers, Sydney Newton, Caitlin Snider, Kayleigh O’Neal and Megan Orton.
The selections were made through peer nominations, and colleagues were asked to nominate individuals they believe have “the respect and admiration of the colleagues” among other attributes.
Of the selections, one will be selected as the district Teacher of the Year in May and will compete at the state level in 2027.
Flowers, welding teacher at Fannin County High School (FCHS), has been teaching for five years. A product of Fannin County Schools, Flowers learned the trade at Tri-County Community College.
“I always wanted to teach, but after high school I was done with learning,” he said.
However, his mind later changed after discovering the welding position open at the school. He has since been working on a degree in education and has taken classes at the University of Georgia and Georgia Military College.
“I was shocked when I found out,” Flowers said of being named. “It means maybe I’m doing something right. It’s an honor.”
Newton, middle school English language arts teacher, has been teaching for 13 years. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Secondary English Education from Kennesaw State University before gaining a Master of Education in Middle Grades Language Arts from Piedmont University.
“I am incredibly fortunate to be surrounded by such exceptional teachers, so it is truly an honor that they selected me to represent them as Fannin County Middle School’s Teacher of the Year,” she said.
Snider, West Fannin Elementary fourth grade teacher, said her desire to teach has everything to do with the fact that she loves kids. She is in her 14th year teaching.
A FCHS graduate, Snider went on to the University of North Georgia (formerly North Georgia College) to obtain her bachelor’s in Early Childhood Education. She then earned her master’s from Georgia Southern University followed by a specialist degree from Piedmont University.
“It’s very special, an honor because my colleagues voted and nominated me,” Snider said of being named.
O’Neal, a second grade teacher at East Fannin Elementary, said she is honored and “baffled even” to have been selected.
While in her 14th year teaching, O’Neal said she had wanted to be a teacher from age four.
“I tell my students I am their school mom,” O’Neal said. “I feel very blessed.”
She received a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood Education from Georgia College and State University before earning a Masters of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction from Georgia Southern University. More recently, O’Neal obtained a Reading Specialist degree from Arkansas State University.
Orton, Blue Ridge Elementary second grade teacher, is another graduate of FCHS.
“First and foremost, teaching is a God-given ability and a calling,” she said. “I cannot take credit for any of my achievements without first giving Him the glory He deserves.
“My why and passion for what I do are because of the children I have the privilege of working with. They are what drives me daily. I also can’t go without mentioning my incredible co-workers. Teaching is a team effort, and to say I am blessed with a wonderful team is an understatement.”
Orton has been teaching for 13 years and earned her Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education from Shorter University, and both a master’s and her Education Specialist degree in Curriculum and Instruction from Piedmont University.