What began in 2020 as a way to celebrate Alexander High School seniors planning to pursue
careers in education has now grown into a district-wide recognition of the next generation of teachers.
Fourteen seniors from three Douglas County School System high schools signed certificates of commitment to attend college and become educators during the Future Educators Signing Day ceremony, held May 7 at the Alexander High School Performing Arts Center.
The students—eight from Alexander High, and three each from Douglas County High and Lithia Springs High—also honored the teachers who inspired them to enter the profession, presenting them with the Golden Apple Award.
“Future Educators Signing Day is a powerful celebration of our students' commitment to shaping the future through teaching,” said Tekmekia Gilchrist, Executive Director of CTAE/6-12 Curriculum for DCSS. “Recognizing those who have completed the Early Childhood Education or Teaching as a Profession pathway, this event symbolizes a district-wide investment in growing our own educators. By honoring these future teachers, we affirm the importance of education and inspire the next generation of teachers in Douglas County.”
Brooke Morris, who teaches the Teaching as a Profession and Early Childhood Education pathways at Alexander and is also the 2024-25 DCSS Teacher of the Year, started the recognition five years ago with four students signing certificates of commitment.
Morris said she meets with the other Early Childhood Education teachers across the district throughout the year. It was during those meetings that the decision was made to expand Future Educators Signing Day to include all high schools in the district.
She said the expansion is a powerful step toward growing the Teaching as a Profession and Early Childhood Education pathways.
“Most importantly, we hope this celebration will make a lasting impression—showing students that Douglas County is invested in their future,” Morris said. “Our goal is that one day, these students will want to return home and teach in our county, knowing they were supported, valued, and celebrated from the very beginning.”
Superintendent Dr. Trent North thanked the students for choosing education as a career.
“Always remember, whatever gave you that sparkle to choose this path, everyone who enters your life, you owe it to them to pass that sparkle on,” Dr. North said. “That’s your calling and your gift.”
Students participating in Future Educators Signing Day and the teachers they honored with Golden Apple Awards (in parentheses) are:
Alexander High School
Gabby Adams (Brooke Morris)
Aralynn Davis (Josh Cissell)
Emily Hilton (Kati Kent)
Harlie Lech (Dallas-Smith-Taylor)
Zaniah Lord (Sarah Leach)
Juliette Pedrera (Sara Underwood)
Messiah Thomas (Samantha Shipp)
Rose Wilson (Cameron Sheldon)
Douglas County High School
Olivia Earl (Natalie Murray)
Haley Hulsey (Victoria Freeman)
Taylor Hemingway (Jane Upton)
Lithia Springs High School
Wendy Salas-Ramirez (Amanda Lankford)
Janiyah Dowell (Stephanie Carr)
Samyia Hathorn (Anna Tolbert)
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