Twiggs County’s 2025 Teacher of the Year has died. ‘A cornerstone of this community’

The Twiggs County Public Schools community is mourning the sudden death of an elementary school teacher who was also the district’s 2025 Teacher of the Year.

Michelle Capece, a former teacher at Jeffersonville Elementary School, died on Tuesday, according to a statement the district shared on social media. She was 60.

District leaders, including interim Superintendent Tyrone Bacon, Jeffersonville Elementary School Principal Mark Davis and the Twiggs County Board of Education, extended their condolences and sympathy to Capece’s family. Officials said her death will be deeply felt throughout the community.

“A devoted (Twiggs County Public Schools) educator for over 20 years, Ms. Capece’s legacy of service continues to have lasting impact on the Twiggs County community,” the district wrote. “She was a cornerstone of this community, and we will miss her presence and dedication profoundly.”

Capece was named Twiggs County Public Schools 2025-26 Teacher of the Year, according to several district posts on Facebook.

The district said Capece’s deep involvement in the school system for 24 years made her a cherished member of the school community, as she devoted time from the classroom to extracurricular activities such as the Junior Beta Club and local sports fields.

Services for Capece are being handled by the Serenity Funeral Home in Dublin, the district shared Wednesday in a press release.

James Austin, the district’s assistant superintendent, said Capece’s family has not provided additional information following her sudden death. He said the district will share more details on its social media platforms once they become available with the family’s permission.

This story was originally published January 7, 2026 at 10:07 AM.