The Jackson County School System has announced its 2026 Teachers, Support Persons of the Year, along with the system's three Bus Driver of the Year finalists. All 30 individuals will be recognized at the system's Teacher and Support Person of the Year Banquet in September.

Each school within the system selects a Teacher and Support Person of the Year, all of whom move on to a district-level competition to be recognized as the system's Teacher or Support Person of the Year. This year will mark the fifth time JCSS has recognized a Support Person of the Year, and the fourth year the system has recognized a Bus Driver of the Year. 

The system's Teacher of the Year advances to the state Teacher of the Year competition.

The system announced the following individuals as the People of the Year:

East Jackson Elementary School: Ashley Wheeler (TOTY), Erica Applewhite (SPOTY)

East Jackson High School: Dr. Todd Chandler (TOTY), Clint Rouse (SPOTY)

East Jackson Middle School: Kimberly Johnson (TOTY), Lori Ann Gower (SPOTY)

Empower College & Career Center: Melissa Webb (TOTY), Lisa Dix (SPOTY)

Gum Springs Elementary School: Jamie Cofer (TOTY), Kelsey Hughes (SPOTY)

Heroes Elementary School: Amanda McMahon (TOTY), Jen O'Neil (SPOTY)

Jackson County High School: Alex Nichols (TOTY), Erin Hughes (SPOTY)

Legacy Knoll Middle School: Brittany Maynard (TOTY), Melinda Steward (SPOTY)

Maysville Elementary School: Julie Neely (TOTY), Sarah Hoffmann (SPOTY)

North Jackson Elementary School: Trish Auten (TOTY), Sydney Neese (SPOTY)

South Jackson Elementary School: Angie Embry (TOTY), Leslie Willis (SPOTY)

West Jackson Elementary School: Jessica Smith (TOTY), Brian Belangee (SPOTY)

West Jackson Middle School: Danielle Habeeb (TOTY), Kalen Renfroe (SPOTY)

Central Office: Robin Mayfield (SPOTY)

Bus Driver of the Year Finalists: Tracy Booth, Clara Willard, Wesley Oldham