The Jackson County School System held its fourth annual Teacher and Support Person of the Year Banquet on Thursday night in Braselton, where it announced the recipients of its 2025-26 awards. The event recognized outstanding staff from across the district, including school-level Teachers and Support Persons of the Year, as well as a Central Office honoree and three Bus Driver of the Year finalists.
Kristin Butkovich, a seventh grade math teacher at Legacy Knoll Middle School, was named Teacher of the Year. Haley Meier, an instructional coach at Gum Springs Elementary School, received the Support Person of the Year award. Rhonda Collins was selected as Bus Driver of the Year.
All honorees present at the banquet were awarded $500 from the Board of Education. Additional awards included $1,500 for Butkovich through donations from Heyward Allen Toyota and Peach State Federal Credit Union. Meier and Collins each received an extra $1,250 provided by the JCSS Foundation.
