Rockdale County Public Schools announce 2025 Teacher of the Year finalists

CONYERS, GA– Rockdale County Public Schools (RCPS) recently announced the top three finalists for the district Teacher of the Year with surprise visits to finalists’ schools. The district finalists for RCPS Teacher of the Year are Gretchen Gault of Lorraine Elementary School, Latonya Saunders of Memorial Middle School, and Danyel Stancil of C.J. Hicks Elementary School.

Each finalist received a surprise visit at their school on Wednesday morning, Aug. .27, by RCPS Superintendent Shirley Chesser, Rockdale County Board of Education (BOE) Chairwoman Sandra Jackson-Lett, BOE members Pam Brown, Akita Parmer, Justin Kenney, cabinet members, school leaders and staff, who commended the finalists.

“I am thrilled to celebrate and honor this year’s finalists for the RCPS Teacher of the Year. They are among the best of the best and I congratulate all three – Gretchen Gault, Latonya Saunders, and Danyel Stancil – for their outstanding dedication, passion, and impact. Each of them embodies the heart of teaching and the spirit of Rockdale County Public Schools,” said Superintendent Shirley Chesser.

“During our classroom visits, students shared what makes their teacher so great,” said Rockdale County Board of Education Chairwoman Sandra Jackson-Lett. “It was clear that these teachers care deeply about their students and go above and beyond to help them be successful.”

Each school-level Teacher of the Year is chosen by their peers as an educator who exemplifies the highest levels of their profession and goes above and beyond for their students, colleagues and community. The three district finalists are chosen out of the school-level Teachers of the Year. The RCPS Teacher of the Year Celebration will be held September 25, 2025, at Rockdale Career Academy, where all school-level Teachers of the Year will be honored and the district winner will be named.

Gretchen Gault – Lorraine Elementary School

Gretchen Gault has been teaching for 34 years, serving as the Science Lab Teacher at Lorraine Elementary for the past three years. As a recent breast cancer survivor, she participates in cancer awareness walks and events and supports others going through the trials of cancer. She also likes to volunteer in outdoor cleanup events and create nature experiences for the students at LES. She and her husband of 31 years have three children – two boys (27- and 25-years-old) and a girl (22-years-old). In her spare time, she enjoys gardening, baking, crafting, and painting furniture. Her clever and slightly crazy cats also help keep life interesting. One of her most rewarding experiences in her teaching career was seeing a fifth-grade student develop a genuine love for science in her classroom, something that shaped his future. Inspired by that early experience, he worked hard to gain admission to Rockdale Magnet School for Science and Technology. In high school, he won the state science fair and later went on to attend Wake Forest University to pursue a career in science. “Knowing I helped ignite that initial spark and supporting him on his path is one of the most meaningful experiences of my work as a teacher,” she said.

Latonya Saunders – Memorial Middle School

Latonya Saunders has been teaching for 28 years, with 20 of those years at the middle school level and eight years as a sixth grade English Language Arts teacher at Memorial Middle School. She is also the coordinator at MMS for the Rockdale Bridges after school program. In her spare time, she likes to spend time with family – she is an aunty mom to her nieces and nephews – and visit amusement parks and read and cook. She also caters events, mentors young ladies, and volunteer tutors for students that struggle to read. She regularly assists with events at MMS, at Rockdale County High, and with Heritage High’s softball concessions. For her, the most rewarding experience in teaching is “seeing the light bulb go on” in her students. “Knowledge is powerful,” she said. 

Danyel Stancil – C.J. Hicks Elementary School

Danyel Stancil is in her fourth year of teaching and has worked in the field of education for a total of seven years. She has been a third grade reading teacher at C.J. Hicks Elementary School for three years and has been the third grade team leader for the past two years. She is an active member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., and participates in numerous service projects in the Stone Mountain area. She is godmother to a 10-year-old girl who is a special part of her life and she has a beloved Cavapoo, who brings a lot of joy to her home. In her free time, she enjoys reading, working out at the gym, spending quality time with family and friends, exploring walking trails with her dog, listening to music, and embracing the simple joys of life. One of the most rewarding moments in her teaching career was seeing a student who initially struggled with reading and began to develop a genuine love for it. “By the end of the year, he was reading at grade level and beaming with pride because he had accomplished something others had doubted he could achieve,” said Stancil. “Witnessing that transformation was incredibly meaningful.” She added, “I chose to become a teacher because of the positive impact my own teachers had on my life. They made me feel valued, supported, and part of a community and I strive to create that same experience for my students every day.”