The annual Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools Teacher of the Year Gala was held Friday, February 2, 2024, at the Marriott Savannah Riverfront.  Fifty-seven teachers were honored from nearly every school in the District and Emily Graham of Islands High School was named the 2025 Teacher of the Year.

Emily Graham grew up in Savannah and attended Columbus State University, earning her Bachelor of Music in Music Education followed by her Master of Music in Music Education. As Graham completed her graduate degree, she learned of a new high school opening in her hometown.

It is a rare and special opportunity for a band director to start a program from scratch, and that's exactly what Graham got to do at Islands High School. This is her fourteenth year teaching 9th through 12th grade band at Islands. In that time, she has grown the band program, instrument and music library, started a marching band and jazz band, composed the Islands Fight Song and the music for the Alma Mater, and most recently started teaching AP Music Theory.

As a representative of the many quality teachers across the Savannah-Chatham County Public School System, the District's Teacher of the Year is honored with the distinction of having the Flag of Learning and Liberty proudly displayed at their school. In addition to leading the SCCPSS Professional Senate for Savannah-Chatham educators, the District Teacher of the Year acts as an ambassador, visiting local schools throughout the year, taking part in school board meetings, and representing the district at various events throughout the area.  Ms. Graham will also continue for consideration in the state-level Teacher of the Year program.

See more photos from the Gala here.