Congratulations to our 2026 Teacher of the Year!

More photos from the event can be viewed on our Photo Galleries webpage.

The Cherokee County School District’s 2026 Teacher of the Year heard the call to teach during his military service and now serves his community as an educator … congratulations to Bobby Mayo Wiggins II, Cherokee High School’s Career Pathway carpentry and construction teacher!

The 2026 Legacy Makers: CCSD Teachers of the Year Celebration tonight honored the Teacher of the Year for every CCSD school, including four finalists for the top honor.  At the event’s conclusion, Superintendent Mary Elizabeth Davis opened the envelope to announce that Mr. Wiggins is the 2026 CCSD Teacher of the Year!  The Cherokee County School Board is laser focused on ensuring our students learn more, grow more, and achieve more in our classrooms than they could anywhere else … and amazing teachers like those honored tonight make that success happen.  

“It’s a great honor.  I wouldn’t be here without my wife,” Mr. Wiggins said upon receiving the award. His wife, Emily Wiggins, also is a CCSD teacher and this year’s Teacher of the Year for Mill Creek Middle School.  “She’s made me a better man.  And my kids know – she’s the better teacher out of the two of us.” 

The dinner, and the long list of gifts presented to the honorees, all were made possible thanks to the generosity of sponsor donations including Presenting Sponsors: Cherokee County Educational Foundation, Credit Union of Georgia, Northside Hospital Cherokee and Shottenkirk Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram of Canton.

Mr. Wiggins’s own career pathway led him from graduating from Cherokee High School to serving as a Marine Corps sergeant in Operations Enduring Freedom and Inherent Resolve, to earning his education degree at Auburn University, and back to his alma mater, where he has taught for six years.

His journey took a new turn one year ago when he left his history and economics classroom to teach Career Pathway classes in carpentry and construction. It's the moment, he said, when he grew the most as a teacher leader and a life-long learner.

“That decision required me to step outside my comfort zone, challenge myself professionally, and become a voice for students who needed different opportunities to succeed,” Mr. Wiggins said. “I would encourage teachers to be lifelong learners who are not afraid to grow, adapt, and try new things for the sake of their students.  My own journey from Marine Corps sergeant to classroom teacher has taught me that leadership in education means being patient, firm, and committed to every child, regardless of background or ability.”

That new turn was the right one, according to his colleagues, who selected him as their school’s Teacher of the Year.  He then was named -- by a committee of retired educators, community leaders and the current district Teacher of the Year – as one of four finalists for the CCSD Teacher of the Year award.

“Our profession is not just about lessons and standards -- it is about people,” Mr. Wiggins said. “Every day we are entrusted with young lives, and the way we teach, lead, and serve shapes who our students become.  Education is most powerful when it is practical, meaningful, and rooted in relationships. Students do not remember our worksheets or slide shows — they remember how we made them feel and how we helped them believe in themselves. Whether we teach advanced academics, career skills, or early literacy, our purpose is the same: to prepare students for success in life.”

The finalists and CCSD Teacher of the Year are selected by a panel of community leaders who evaluate applications from each school’s Teacher of the Year; school winners are selected by their peers.  The three other finalists, who received additional gifts and recognition at the event, are: Sarah Edwards, English literature and composition teacher at Dean Rusk Middle School; Jackson Martinez, PE teacher at Hickory Flat Elementary School; Bree Mixson, Early Intervention Program teacher at R.M. Moore ES STEM Academy.

At tonight’s celebration, each school’s Teacher of the Year was congratulated by Superintendent Davis and the full School Board.  All school-level Teachers of the Year are listed online here.

Bill Harrell, general manager of Shottenkirk CDJR of Canton, announced at the event’s close that Mr. Wiggins, as CCSD Teacher of the Year, would enjoy a free one-year lease of a Jeep Wrangler from Shottenkirk. 

All school Teacher of the Year winners each received a $200 Visa gift card from the event sponsors; $100 local restaurant gift card from Shottenkirk CDJR of Canton; certificate for free family portraits from Cady Studios; $25 Amazon gift card from event sponsors; $25 gift certificate from Practically Perfect Day Spa in Canton; $10 gift certificate from Riverstone Corner Bistro; and other gifts and gift certificates from community partners all presented in oversized tote bags on wheels from Simply Southern.

The finalists, in addition to these gifts, also each received: a Kindle Scribe from ProLogics ITS; a $500 Visa gift card from the event sponsors; a free event space certificate from Thrive Canton (valued at $500-plus); $200 Visa gift card from Cobb EMC; choice of CCSD or school logo merchandise from Allegro Business Products, valued at $150; PeachSkin Sheets set valued at $115; $100 gift card from Kroger; $100 gift card from Practically Perfect Day Spa; Birthday in a Box certificate from Nothing Bundt Cakes valued at $85; $50 Visa gift card from Cady Studios; $50 Amazon gift card from Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE); $50 Mastercard gift card from Savvas; $50 gift certificate from J. Michael’s Prime; $50 gift certificate from Buffalo’s Café; $25 gift certificate from Golf2Grow; and gift certificate for a free catering tray card from Chick-fil-A, Cherokee County.

Mr. Wiggins, in addition to the school winner and finalist gifts already noted, also received:

·        An additional $1,000 Visa gift card from the event sponsors;

·        Four club-level tickets to a Braves game, including parking and $80 in food credit (valued at $550) from UES;

·        $500 check from EF2 Realty Team;

·        One-year membership to Big Dan’s Car Wash, valued at $500;

·        $250 Visa gift card from Cherokee Floor Covering;

·        “Spa Day” Package certificate from Practically Perfect Day Spa;

·        Gift card valued at $250 from Kroger (in place of $100);

·        Two-hour fun pass from Stars and Strikes valued at $130;

·        One free half-hour party from Kona Ice Cherokee;

·        Two season passes to the upcoming theatre season from Cherokee Theatre Company;

·        $100 gift card from Williamson Brother’s Bar-B-Q (in place of $50);

·        $100 Visa gift card from Cady Studios (in place of $50);

·        $100 gift certificate from Buffalo’s Café (in place of $50);

·        $75 gift certificate from Golf2Grow; and

·        Laser printer from PAGE.

Sponsors who made all the gifts possible are:

·        Presenting Sponsors: Cherokee County Educational Foundation (CCEF), Credit Union of Georgia, Northside Hospital Cherokee and Shottenkirk Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram;

·        Platinum Sponsors: Cady Studios, Practically Perfect Day Spa, ProLogic ITS, Thrive Canton

·        Gold Sponsors: Buffalo’s Café, Center Cut Catering, Cherokee Education Association, Cherokee Floor Covering, Cherokee Theatre Company, Cobb EMC, Savvas, Simply Southern;

·        Silver Sponsors: Allegro Business Products, Big Dan’s Car Wash, Chick-fil-A, Cherokee County; Corebridge Financial, EF2 Realty Team, Eggs Up Grill, Mary Kay, Lisa Arrington; Nothing Bundt Cakes, Woodstock; PeachSkin Sheets, Professional Association of Georgia Educators (PAGE), Riverstone Corner Bistro, Southern Computer Warehouse, Stars and Strikes, The Kroger Co., UES, Williamson Brothers B-B-Q; and,

·        Bronze Sponsors: Canyons Fresh Grill; Caribou Coffee; Educators First; Golf2Grow; Instructure; J. Michael’s Prime; Kona Ice of Cherokee; Marco's Pizza; Menchie’s Yogurt Riverstone; Smile Doctors; and Staples.

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