Gwinnett’s reigning Teacher of the Year on Thursday was named among the top 10 finalists for Georgia Teacher of the Year by the Georgia Department of Education.

The 10 finalists were chosen from a pool of 150 applicants, and all were previously selected as their school district’s Teacher of the Year. The applications were read by a panel of judges that included teachers, past Georgia Teacher of the Year winners and finalists, administrators, community leaders and others.

The finalists were chosen based on the strength of their essay responses.
Gwinnett County Public Schools’ TOTY, Jamie Lynn McFarland, who teaches third through fifth grade Severe/Profound Intellectual Disabilities at Rock Springs Elementary, was given the district award in November.