‘Be your authentic self.’ Houston County Schools teacher earns top honor

When Amber Washington heard her name announced as the Houston County School District’s 2025–26 Teacher of the Year, she was so stunned that her mouth dropped open — and stayed that way long enough for a school custodian, watching the ceremony virtually, to yell at her through the screen to close it.

“Literally, the first thing I said to myself on stage was, ‘Oh my gosh, no way,’” Washington said, adding that her family had kept the designation such a secret that she convinced herself she wouldn’t win.

The Centerville Elementary School fifth-grade English language arts teacher was honored during the district’s annual opening session on July 23, snagging over $17,000 and heartfelt cheers from her peers. She said the moment wasn’t just a professional milestone — it was personal.

Washington grew up in Houston County, attended its schools and now teaches in the same district that once educated her.

“It feels so good to pour back into the community that poured into me because I feel like a lot of who I am is because of the things I’ve experienced and the friendships I’ve made here in this district,” she said. “So, that’s just been awesome.”

Washington, who has been teaching for 11 years, described her role as an educator as both a calling and a dream fulfilled.

“I was the little girl who played school,” she said. “I played with my mom and my sister. When they didn’t want to play — my stuffed animals (and) my imaginary friends. I think God was telling me I was going to be a teacher, even if I didn’t know it then.”

She said the award affirms that it is OK to dream big and to stay true to who you are without compromising morals or beliefs.

“I know I’m quirky, and I have a very unique personality,” Washington told The Telegraph. “This tells me you can be your authentic self and still be great in this profession, as well as seen.”

Washington originally pursued pre-med before finding her purpose in education, fueled by a desire to help others and a passion for social justice.

“It doesn’t always get recognized, but as teachers, we really set the foundation for making the world a better place because these children are going to go on and be our world changers and our leaders,” she said.

Washington said the full-circle moment deepens when she gets to work alongside some of the same educators who once taught her, and it has shaped her own teaching style, which emphasizes connection and empathy.

Samantha Williams, a 13-year teacher at Centerville Elementary, said Washington deserved the Teacher of the Year title for the calm and understanding energy she brings to the classroom. The two are team teachers, collaborating by teaching different subjects to the same group of students. Over time, they’ve formed a close friendship.

“The biggest thing I’ve learned from her is that she cares,” Williams said about Washington. “Maybe more about making sure kids become good human beings than just meeting standards. It’s important they learn what they need to learn, but for her, it’s also about being a good person who treats others with respect and kindness.”

Williams also praised Washington’s efforts to connect with students beyond academics, including attending their basketball games and highlighting their diverse backgrounds.

“She’s not Muslim, but we had a student who was celebrating Ramadan, and Ms. Washington learned about it so she could have a conversation with her,” Williams said. “No one else really understood what that little girl was going through or why she was eating a certain way that week, but Ms. Washington did, and that meant everything.”

“She’s always thinking about how something’s going to make someone feel,” Williams added. “Making people feel seen is her thing. She’s really great at that.”

Washington’s selection followed a competitive process that included essay writing and interviews. She was chosen from four finalists and presented the honor by former district Teacher of the Year Jade Thomas.

The district’s new school year begins Wednesday, and Washington will return to her classroom — this time as county Teacher of the Year — carrying on her own teaching style fortified by the legacy of the teachers who once inspired her.

She also credited the impact of Houston County educators such as the late Edward Dyerson III and Lazunia Frierson, who shaped her early years.

Her impact as a teacher is already clear — marked by what Washington called one of the proudest moments of her career. One former student, now in middle school, recently wrote to her about a journal assignment she had once given to a reluctant group of writers.

‘I don’t know if you know this,’ the student told her, “but that journal and having you was the best thing in my life.”

This story was originally published August 1, 2025 at 8:55 AM.