Athens middle school teacher wins statewide award

Released today by the Clarke County School District:

The Clarke County School District congratulates Jasmine Curry of Coile Middle School on recently being named the June Bryant Teacher of Promise by the Georgia Council for the Social Studies, the state’s professional association for social studies educators.

Ms. Curry was presented with the award — which recognizes beginning K-12 social studies teachers in

either their second, third, or fourth year in the field who show exceptional promise in their work — on Oct. 23 during the GCSS 2025 Annual Conference in Athens.

A CCSD alumna and 2015 Cedar Shoals High School graduate who also attended Fowler Drive Elementary and Coile as a student, Ms. Curry is in her fourth year professionally with Coile. She began her time there as a paraprofessional, then became a sixth-grade social studies teacher, and now teaches eighth grade.

She was also voted by her staff colleagues at Coile as the school’s 2025-26 Teacher of the Year. In addition to her regular teaching duties, she is the school’s National History Day advisor and works closely with students every year to researchmultiple sources to use for compelling historical projects to be submitted to the regional and potentially state and national competitions.

Ms. Curry is a two-time graduate of Savannah State University — earning both her Associate of Arts and

Bachelor of Science in Sociology — and is currently pursuing a master’s in School Counseling from

Capella University.

“(Winning the Teacher of Promise Award) truly means the world to me,” Ms. Curry said in her acceptance remarks. “Being an educator, coming back to my hometown, and teaching my students, as my teachers did for me over 10 years ago, is truly a blessing and an honor.”

Ms. Curry was nominated for the award by CCSD K-12 Social Studies Content Coordinator Ben Smalley and instructional coach Dr. Erica Gaines.

Smalley praised Curry for her “dedication to student engagement, commitment to civic education, innovative use of resources, and exceptional professionalism” that “make her an outstanding role model for educators.

“Ms. Curry has deep roots in our community and has consistently demonstrated an unwavering commitment to student success,” said Mr. Smalley.

“Her efforts toward the improvement of student

learning and engagement are truly exceptional. Ms. Curry’s teaching philosophy is driven by the belief

that learning is most impactful when it is fun, relatable, and directly connected to students' everyday lives. She actively uses student feedback as the primary driver of their instruction, which has transformed their classroom into a dynamic, interactive space where students are not just passive learners but active participants in their education. She is a credit to the profession and has made a lasting, positive impact on our school and community.

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Media Contact:

Cyndee Perdue Moore, Ed.D.

Executive Director of Public Relations and C