Atlanta Public Schools gave its Teacher of the Year award to a fourth-grade teacher at Burgess-Peterson Elementary School.

Tracey Pendley was announced as this year's winner of the "District Excellence in Teaching Award" on Wednesday. 

She’s taught fourth grade at Burgess-Peterson for four years.

“Tracey Pendley began teaching because she truly believes in the power of education to create choice-filled lives for our students and she is deeply committed to ensuring educational equity for every child,” said Superintendent Meria Carstarphen, in a written statement.

Pendley will now be in the running for Georgia’s Teacher of the Year award, announced in the spring.

VIDEO: Previous coverage of APS

Superintendent Maria Carstarphen says despite their success, there is still a lot of work that needs to be done

Other finalists for the APS award this year were Dan Adam Lloyd, an 8th grade English teacher at Sutton Middle School, and Stephen Lawrence, an orchestra teacher at North Atlanta High School.

APS also recognized the following other award-winners on Wednesday:

  • Principal of the Year - Crystal Jones, Beecher Hills Elementary School
  • Assistant Principal of the Year – Barry Blackmon, Douglass High School
  • Students First Award - Azuree Walker, International Baccalaureate Specialist, West Manor Elementary School
  • Schools First Award - Marki Dixon, Senior Procurement Officer
  • GO Teams – Excellence in Leadership - Artesza Portee, principal, Sylvan Hills Middle School
  • 2018-19 Outstanding GO Team – North Atlanta High School GO Team
  • District Partner of the Year – Delta Airlines

Cluster Partner Awards 

  • Carver Cluster – Loews Atlanta Hotel
  • Jackson Cluster – The Bert Show
  • Douglass Cluster – Men of the Eta Omega Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
  • Washington Cluster – Peachtree Road United Methodist Church
  • Therrell Cluster – Bill Selmon
  • Mays Cluster – Father Charles Fischer
  • Grady Cluster – MailChimp
  • North Atlanta Cluster – LaAmistad
  • South Atlanta Cluster – Cigna Insurance Company
  • Excellence in Family Engagement Award - Mamie Jackson, Forest Hills Academy
  • Family Engagement Leadership – The Latino Association for Parents for Public Schools

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