Jefferson’s Restaurant is pleased to announce the Atlanta area Jefferson’s Teacher of the Year winners. Each Jefferson’s location in the Atlanta area has honored a local winner:
- Carrollton: Ruthie Phillips teaches chorus and theater at Central High School, where she oversees five choirs, a theater class, a musical theater program, and serves as a literary coordinator. Ms. Phillips has been teaching for nine years, and was chosen for her care, and her ability to inspire excellence in her students.
- Cartersville: Mallory Dorris teaches first grade math at Cloverleaf Elementary School. Ms. Dorris always felt the call to teach, and is proud to be doing so in Cartersville. Now in her second year of teaching, Dorris was chosen for her ability to make sure every child knows they are seen and valued.
- Rockmart: Connor Teems teaches 6-12 band at Rockmart High School. Raised by two educators, Mr. Teems was born and raised in Rockmart. He has been teaching for seven years, and was selected for his ability to both ensure his students’ deep understanding and to brighten their day.
- Villa Rica: John Kelley teaches 6-12 theater at Villa Rica High School. Mr. Kelley is proud to have built up a robust theater program at Villa Rica, where his many students constantly inspire him. He has been teaching for eight years, and was chosen for his commitment to growing his school’s drama program and teaching his students self-confidence.
Each teacher was chosen from a highly competitive pool of nominations submitted by students and community members. The contest, launched in honor of National Teachers’ Day on May 5, aims to recognize a few of the many deserving teachers in the Atlanta area. Jefferson’s selected Phillips, Dorris, Teems, and Kelley as the Teachers of the Year for their commitment to not only teaching their students, but also changing their lives for the better.
“Our educators Phillips, Dorris, Teems, and Kelley are all teachers that are beloved by their communities,” said Brandon Graham, Jefferson’s president. “Their nominators spoke across the board of their infectious enthusiasm, their ability to spark curiosity in their students, and their gift of nurturing of confidence in their kids. These teachers have pulled from their own pockets and found creative ways to community-source to give these students full experiences—and these students know they are deeply cared for. Phillips, Dorris, Teems, and Kelley embody everything our communities value in their teachers and leaders, and we’re honored to recognize them for their outstanding dedication to their communities.”
Each teacher will receive a $500 gift card to Jefferson’s, and their achievement will be commemorated on the “Jefferson’s Teacher of the Year” plaque for all restaurant patrons to see.
Last year was the launch of the Teacher of the Year program, with Nick White, Leslie Nix, Rebecca Shepard, Charlene Woolfork, and Jonathan Cook honored as the Atlanta metro 2025 Teachers of the Year.
This year is the sophomore run for the Jefferson’s Teacher of the Year award, launched as a companion program to Jefferson’s Coach of the Year award, which runs in the fall. The teachers’ initiative is open to teachers working with students of any age, and candidates could be nominated by students, parents and guardians of students, school officials, or other community members.