Ms. Amber Washington of Centerville Elementary School was recently named the 2025-2026 Houston County Teacher of the Year. The announcement was made at the District’s Opening Session held on July 23. She received over $17,000 in cash and prizes donated by organizations from throughout Houston County.

Ms. Washington is a lifelong resident of Warner Robins and began teaching at Centerville Elementary in 2016. After graduating from Northside High School, she attended Valdosta State University. Later, she received a master’s degree from Walden University and her specialist degree from Piedmont University.

Ms. Washington said, "We spend so much of our time with our students focusing on academic instruction. It is equally as important that we provide them with instruction that sets them up to be great friends, empathetic individuals, and changemakers.”

 Four finalists were also announced as follows:

• Ann Rentz, Bonaire Elementary School
• Brooke McKeever, Northside Elementary School
• Jake Harvey, Mossy Creek Middle School
• Amy von Oven, David Perdue Primary School

At the same program, the District announced the School-level and District-level Support Person of the Year. 

Brianna Howard, a route specialist from the Transportation Department, was selected as the District-level Support Person of the Year, and Stephanie Brown, a secretary from Thomson Middle School, was selected as the School-level Support Person of the Year.

Premier Sponsors included the Development Authority of Houston County, Emory Healthcare, Flint Energies, H.E.A. Federal Credit Union, PBK Architects, Parrish Construction, The Roderick Group, Southside Baptist Church, Totem Business Solutions and Yancy Bus Sales & Service. Signature Sponsors included Central Georgia Technical College and Robins Financial Credit Union. Gold Sponsors were Corebridge Financial, Cox Communications, and Synovus.

Approximately 50 local businesses and community organizations donated gifts for the Teachers of the Year and the Support Person of the Year finalists. A full list of contributors can be found on our website atwww.hcbe.net/openingsession.

A full video of Opening Session can be found on the Houston County School District’s Facebook page.