Georgia Named 2026-27 Teacher of the Year
A social science teacher at the Macon Youth Development Campus has been honored for her educational leadership.
Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Secondary Education
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The Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice has recognized Syntria Holmes-Jackson as the 2026-27 Teacher of the Year. She serves students at the Macon Youth Development Campus.
Why it matters
The department commissioner selected Holmes-Jackson for this annual award to highlight exceptional educational leadership and commitment to the agency mission. Her work supports the academic and personal development of youth within the state system.
Syntria Holmes-Jackson has served with the department for over two decades, including 19 years as a social science teacher. Her tenure includes more than 10 years of experience mentoring other educators.
The players
Syntria Holmes-Jackson
The 2026-27 Teacher of the Year who serves as a social science instructor at the Macon Youth Development Campus.
Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice
The state agency responsible for overseeing youth development centers and the education of students within the juvenile system.
Middle Georgia Regional Educational Service Agency
A regional support body that provides teacher coaching and professional endorsements for educators throughout the state.
The details
Holmes-Jackson provides instruction at the Macon Youth Development Campus while managing complex support systems for the department. She currently serves as the assessment coordinator and chairs the Response to Intervention/Multi-Tiered Support System. Her professional toolkit includes coaching and teacher support endorsements obtained from the Middle Georgia Regional Educational Service Agency.
Timeline
2005: Holmes-Jackson began her career with the Department of Juvenile Justice.
2007: She transitioned into her role as a social science teacher.
2026-27: The academic year covered by the Teacher of the Year award.
The Home Front
This award highlights the state's commitment to the Multi-Tiered Support System as a framework for student intervention and academic tracking. Such initiatives reflect broader trends in specialized education sectors that prioritize data-driven outcomes for students in controlled environments.
Parents and families of students navigating the juvenile system should verify that their children's educators hold relevant regional endorsements. This ensures that the academic support systems, such as Response to Intervention, are being managed by highly qualified professional staff.
The takeaway
Recognizing educators within the juvenile justice system emphasizes the essential role of specialized instruction for youth development. Families can check school policy documents to confirm if their district utilizes the same Multi-Tiered Support System standards highlighted by this award.
Further reading
For more on standards in local classrooms, visit the Secondary Education section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by 41NBC News | WMGT-DT.
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