Lucas Brock, Carroll County School System’s Teacher of the Year, has been named a Top 10 Finalist for 2024 Georgia Teacher of the Year, State School Superintendent Richard Woods announced today during a surprise visit to Brock’s agriculture classroom at Central Middle School.
In only his fourth year of teaching, Brock has amassed quite a trophy case with stints as National Association of Agriculture Educators Turn the Key winner in 2020 and Georgia Vocational Agriculture Teachers Association Outstanding Early Career Teacher of the Year in 2022. He started the Central Middle agriculture education program in 2019 and has helped students win numerous area and state competitions including Georgia FFA North Region Chapter of the Year Awards the last three years running. In 2020, FFA recognized the CMS chapter as one of the top five chapters in the nation.
“Mr. Brock is truly an asset to Central Middle School and our entire system,” Carroll County Schools Superintendent Scott Cowart said. “His enthusiasm for agriculture and his passion for education is contagious. Listening to him talk about his students and his plans for the future of this program makes me want to get back in the classroom. He’s a fantastic representative for our system at the state level.”
The state teacher of the year award process begins with over 100,000 teachers in Georgia. State finalists were chosen from a pool of applicants all previously selected as their school district’s Teacher of the Year. The applications were read by a panel of judges that included teachers, past Georgia Teacher of the Year winners, administrators, community leaders and others. The finalists were chosen based on the strength of their essay responses.
Brock said he believes that assisting students in discovering their passions and celebrating their accomplishments can have lasting impacts on their development. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture and Environmental Education and a Master of Science in Agriculture and Environmental Education from the University of Georgia, a specialist degree in Agriscience Education from Auburn University, and is enrolled in the Doctor of Philosophy in Career and Technical Education program at Auburn University.
“Lucas Brock is a premier educator in every aspect,” CMS Principal Colleen Jones said. “Mr. Brock goes above and beyond for his students, FFA community, Central Middle School, and agricultural education across the state. He is a champion of STEM agri-science education and develops the next generation of community leaders through our FFA. He is beyond deserving of this recognition. We are proud of the work he does to positively change lives everyday!”
Brock will travel to downtown Atlanta April 17 for the final round of interviews and a prepared speech.
The 2024 Georgia Teacher of the Year will serve as an ambassador for the teaching profession in Georgia and will be entered in the National Teacher of the Year competition. Georgia Teacher of the Year operates one year of the calendar ahead to align with the national program; the 2024 Teacher of the Year will serve from July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024.
