Gadd named a finalist for Mississippi Teacher of the Year

Published 10:37 am Friday, March 22, 2019

The Lafayette County School District could soon be boasting a rare accomplishment. Earlier this month the Mississippi Department of Education announced their finalists for the state’s Teacher of the Year for 2019 and Lafayette High’s Hannah Gadd made the cut. 

If selected, Gadd would be the second consecutive teacher out of Lafayette County’s school system to be named Mississippi’s top educator. Lafayette’s Whitney Drewery is current reigning Mississippi Teacher of the Year. 

Gadd is eligible for the honor after being named the Lafayette County School District’s Teacher of Year in January and is representing Congressional District 1. She is the choir director at LHS and teaches music appreciation to grades 6th through 12th. 

Email newsletter signup

“It means that it’s kind of a way for me to say thank you to my teachers that invested so much in me,” Gadd said about being named Teacher of the Year for LCSD. “It’s obviously very encouraging and exciting.” 

Other finalists include Monique Cocroft of Moorehead Central School in Sunflower County. Cocroft is a English, Language Arts and Social Studies teacher for 3rd through 5th grade and is representing Congressional District 2. Krileshia Boyd teaches third grade at Northeast Lauderdale Elementary School in Lauderdale County and is Congressional District 3’s finalist. Representing Congressional District 4 is Charlene Stephens who teaches sixth grade at Pass Christian Middle School in the Pass Christian School District. 

If Gadd is named Mississippi’s Teacher of the Year she will be asked to share expertise through various presentations and activities for the improvement of education. The winner will be announced on March 29 during a ceremony at the Jackson Convention Complex in Jackson at 11 a.m.