Carrollton Upper Elementary School Teacher of the Year Karee Payne and students pose at the front of her classroom. The CUES students with Teacher of the Year Karee Paynee, front row from left, are Dean Taylor and Tyson Buchanan, and back row are Alexandra Aleman, Alivia Byrd, Mariella Morris, and Zaylen Walker.
From nurturing a love of stories to helping students live out their own, Karee Payne invests in students and colleagues alike. Named Carrollton Upper Elementary’s Teacher of the Year, Payne’s passion lies in servant leadership, striving to make an impact through the simple daily tasks, whether the moment calls for tying shoes or holding students accountable.
Empowered by educators and a childhood filled with books, Payne developed her own confidence through learning and imagination. The knowledge she discovered in literature enabled her to access a new perspective as a learner, and she hopes to extend that to her students.
Payne began her collegiate education at the University of West Georgia, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education, and continued at Lesley University to earn a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus in Literacy K-12. Throughout her years in education, she has served as an in-school coordinator for special education, a small group reading tutor, an instructional coach, and a classroom teacher.
The joy she has found working directly with students and the relationships she has built as a teacher have remained her anchor. Each day, Payne aims to teach students to be lifelong learners and leaders in whatever sphere they are in–just as she does in her classroom.
“I have learned that leadership happens beside a student’s desk, in a hallway conversation, or while kneeling to tie a shoe,” said Payne. “Much of teaching happens in small moments that may never be measured, but those moments often matter deeply to children. That is why the smallest act in my classroom has become the clearest picture of my purpose.”
For Payne, attention to detail indicates care, and care fuels personal and academic growth. Just as kneeling to tie a student’s shoe demonstrates her willingness to humbly offer help and protection, it also communicates that it is okay to ask for assistance in the search for a solution. Setting expectations and teaching others how to solve problems is at the heart of her work. If a lesson plan fails to connect, she redesigns it and tries again—modeling the exact determination she asks of her students.
“Karee is empathetic to each student who walks into her classroom. She shows genuine love, concern, and compassion to each student before instruction even begins,” said CUES Principal Tabitha Walker. “She builds relationships with students and their families and goes the extra mile to ensure their needs are met. Her students feel valued and work hard to overcome academic struggles because of the confidence she instills in them.”
She aims to continue impacting students while also serving her colleagues through collaboration and mentorship. When working with new teachers, she is often the first to offer a helping hand or share resources, leading by example. As an investment in her own professional growth, Payne is currently a doctoral candidate at the American College of Education, where she is refining her craft and living out her commitment to lifelong learning.
Payne’s impact on her students and other faculty members led to her selection as Carrollton Upper Elementary School Teacher of the Year for the 2026-2027 school year. She and other Teacher of the Year recipients, Dr. Mandy Duffey, Carrollton Elementary School; Juanito Redwine, Carrollton Middle School; and Morganne Harper, Carrollton High School, will be considered for the district honor to be announced at the district’s system kickoff on July 29.
