Celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week and the East Central GLRS Special Educator of the Year Awards

During Teacher Appreciation Week, East Central GLRS is honored to celebrate the educators who dedicate their lives to serving, supporting, and uplifting students. This week gives us a meaningful opportunity to recognize the teachers who make a lasting difference every day—especially the special educators across the Heart of Georgia region who lead with compassion, skill, patience, and unwavering commitment.

On May 1, 2026, East Central GLRS hosted the Special Educator of the Year Awards Luncheon at Dublin Country Club. The luncheon brought together special education directors, educators, colleagues, families, and regional partners to honor outstanding special educators whose work reflects excellence in service to students with disabilities.

The East Central GLRS Special Educator of the Year Awards are more than a recognition event. They are a celebration of the heart of special education. Each honoree represents the dedication, creativity, advocacy, and love that define this profession. Special educators individualize instruction, remove barriers, support communication, build confidence, collaborate with families, and help students achieve meaningful success in school and beyond.

This year’s celebration also held a deeper meaning as we honored the life and legacy of

Alicia Hartley, Special Education Director of Montgomery County. Alicia was a beloved colleague, friend, leader, and prayer warrior whose impact reached far beyond her district. She loved the Lord, her family, her students, her teachers, and the field of special education. Her dedication to learning, leading, and serving others inspired everyone who knew her.

During the luncheon, East Central GLRS paused to remember Alicia’s beautiful spirit and the tremendous difference she made in the lives of students, educators, and colleagues throughout the region. While our hearts continue to grieve her loss, we also celebrate the legacy she leaves behind—a legacy of faith, kindness, excellence, service, and love for special education.

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Teacher Appreciation Week reminds us that educators are often the steady hands and hopeful voices students need most. Special educators, in particular, carry the responsibility of seeing every learner’s strengths, honoring every learner’s needs, and believing in every learner’s future.

To every special educator in the East Central GLRS region: thank you. Thank you for the long hours, the careful planning, the advocacy, the encouragement, and the daily commitment you bring to your students and schools. Your work matters. Your students matter. The difference you make will be felt for years to come.

As we celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week, we honor our award recipients, remember Alicia Hartley’s lasting legacy, and recognize all special educators who continue to inspire, support, and uplift every learner.