Athens teacher, parapro of the year announced

Timothy Pritchett

The following has been released by the Clarke County School District:

Timothy Pritchett - Teacher of the Year

The winner of the Mae M. Whatley Teacher of the Year Award, Mr. Pritchett has been with CCSD since

2019, starting as a teacher at Whit Davis Elementary before moving to Barnett Shoals Elementary, where

he has served for the past five years. Before his time in Clarke County, he spent three years with the

Griffin-Spalding County School System – first as a substitute, then as a paraprofessional, and later as a

classroom teacher. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication (Broadcast) from Benedict

College and holds an M.A.T. in Early Childhood Education and M.Ed. in Educational Administration and Policy from the University of Georgia.

During his time at Barnett Shoals, Mr. Pritchett launched “Lunch Learners” and “After-School Achievers, two free tutoring programs designed to provide targeted instruction and personalized attention to students. Lunch Learners students meet during the school day, and Mr. Pritchett works with small groups to reteach key concepts, strengthen foundational skills, and help students set personal academic achievement goals. After-School Achievers extends classroom support beyond regular school hours and allows him to challenge students who are ready for advanced material while providing them with additional practice where needed.

While Mr. Pritchett said he has seen students from all backgrounds embrace challenges as opportunities

for growth and develop a strong sense of ownership over their learning through these initiatives, the

school’s testing performance data has also shown their effectiveness, as his classes showed some of the strongest reading scores among students grades 3-5 on the Georgia Milestones and the majority of his

students finished on or above grade level in their reading and math diagnostics.

“Mr. Pritchett is the kind of teacher who goes above and beyond every single day,” said Barnett Shoals

Principal Sabrina Lumpkin.

“His dedication to his scholars shows in the time he gives—staying after school to tutor, creating fun, hands-on science experiments, and making learning come alive. His passion inspires his scholars to believe in themselves, stay curious, and see the world with wonder. He doesn’t just teach—he changes lives.”

In addition to his tutoring work, Mr. Pritchett collaborated with other staff members to improve BarnettShoals’ school climate and culture by refining the school’s PBIS systems, helped drive academic and cultural initiatives that led the school to achieve “Leader in Me” Lighthouse School recognition, and

partnered with a fifth-grade teacher to strengthen student engagement in the Georgia 4-H program,

resulting in his recognition as a four-time recipient of the Athens-Clarke County 4-H Outstanding

Elementary School Teacher award.

“I consistently seek opportunities to inspire growth, build relationships, and create environments where

students feel empowered, supported, and capable of achieving their highest potential,” Mr. Pritchett wrote in his Teacher of the Year application.

“Each effort is driven by my belief that meaningful learning happens when students are challenged, encouraged, and valued as whole individuals—an approach that has not only elevated student outcomes but also strengthened the culture of our school community. I remain committed to improving each initiative so that their impact continues to grow year after year.”

Brian Smith - Support Professional of the Year

Brian Smith

The winner of the Janis J. Stephens Support Professional of the Year Award, Mr. Smith is a native

Athenian and proud product of CCSD, having attended Timothy Road Elementary, Coile Middle, and Cedar Shoals High School, where he graduated in 2010. He has been employed with CCSD for 12 years, all of which have been spent at Barnett Shoals. He began his career as an After-School Program teacher, worked as a special education paraprofessional, and now serves as a behavior interventionist.

He has also been a core member of the school’s PBIS team responsible for Barnett Shoals earning

“Distinguished PBIS School” status from the Georgia Department of Education.

Outside of his school-day job responsibilities, Mr. Smith coaches the Barnett Shoals boys’ basketball

team that competes in the CCSD Elementary School Basketball League through the Athens Youth Development Initiative and is an assistant on the Cedar Shoals’ boys’ varsity basketball coaching staff.

During the 2016-17 school year, after reviewing school behavioral data that indicated a clear need within the school community, Mr. Smith founded “Boys to Men,” a mentorship and empowerment program at Barnett Shoals for male students in grades 3-5 that is designed to equip them with important life skills that will serve them well in but also extend beyond the classroom.

Character traits Mr. Smith focuses on through his guidance of the group include accountability,

responsibility, resilience, confidence, and leadership. He said participants are encouraged to envision

themselves not just as successful students, but as productive citizens who can positively impact the

world. Since its founding, Boys to every participant in the initial cohorts has gone on to graduate from high school, with many continuing into higher education, the military, or the workforce.

“Seeing these young men develop the confidence, discipline, and life skills necessary for success has

been one of the most rewarding aspects of my career,” said Mr. Smith.

“I want every child who enters our building to know two things: they are safe here, and this is a place where they can grow into leaders. … When students learn confidence, perseverance, and self-advocacy, they are gaining tools that will serve them well through adolescence and into adulthood.”