---
title: HR 1971. Jones, Maya; Sandtown Middle School's 2025-2026 Teacher of the Year; commend
collection: bills
id: 2025-2026/hr1971
cite_as: HR 1971, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1971
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1971.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1971/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/74542
date: 2026-03-27
status: passed
corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13
license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1970.md
next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1972.md
index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md
omitted: votes and history
omitted_chars: 134
omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1971.md?full=1
bill_number: HR 1971
session: 2025-2026 Regular Session
session_slug: 2025-2026
chamber: House
bill_type: resolution
status_date: 2026-03-27
last_action: House Read and Adopted
sponsors:
  - Mekyah McQueen
text_version: Introduced
has_text: true
legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR1971/2025
upstream_id: 2139189
summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5
topic_tags:
  - teacher recognition
  - education
  - Sandtown Middle School
  - Georgia House resolutions
---

# HR 1971. Jones, Maya; Sandtown Middle School's 2025-2026 Teacher of the Year; commend

## Text

House Resolution 1971
By: Representative McQueen of the 61st
A RESOLUTION
Commending Maya Jones, Sandtown Middle School's 2025-2026 Teacher of the Year; and
for other purposes.
WHEREAS, nothing is more vital to the future of our state than the education of our young
people, and Maya Jones exemplifies the selfless dedication that is characteristic of our finest
teachers; and
WHEREAS, Maya Jones is a highly praised eighth grade interrelated educator at Sandtown
Middle School who tirelessly directs an extraordinary amount of time and talent toward
guiding students to a brighter future; and
WHEREAS, with over a decade of experience, she has dedicated her career to fostering the
academic success of middle school students across DeKalb County, Atlanta Public Schools,
and Fulton County Schools; and
WHEREAS, she further serves her school community as the SEC department chair and
contributes greatly to the New Teachers Committee and PBIS Committee; and
WHEREAS, Maya Jones has earned distinction for teaching excellence as a result of her
dedication to her students and her profession and has been honored as Sandtown Middle
School's 2025-2026 Teacher of the Year; and
WHEREAS, in recognition of such remarkable contributions to the education and welfare
of Georgia's students, it is abundantly fitting and proper for this body to honor the
extraordinary accomplishments and academic achievements of this outstanding educator.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that
the members of this body commend Maya Jones, Sandtown Middle School's 2025-2026
Teacher of the Year, and express their most sincere best wishes for continued success.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized
and directed to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for distribution to Maya
Jones.

## Summaries written by Georgia Commons

The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the resolution. Quote the text, not the summary.

A Georgia House resolution formally commends Maya Jones, an eighth grade teacher at Sandtown Middle School, for being named the school's 2025-2026 Teacher of the Year.

### Plain-language summary

This resolution is a ceremonial honor passed by the Georgia House of Representatives. It recognizes Maya Jones, an eighth grade interrelated educator at Sandtown Middle School, who has spent over a decade teaching middle school students in DeKalb County, Atlanta Public Schools, and Fulton County Schools.
The resolution notes her roles as SEC department chair and her work on the New Teachers Committee and PBIS Committee at her school, and states she was honored as Sandtown Middle School's 2025-2026 Teacher of the Year. The House resolves to commend her and directs the Clerk of the House to prepare a copy of the resolution for her. It does not change any Georgia law, create funding, or impose any requirements.

### What it does

- Formally commends Maya Jones for being named Sandtown Middle School's 2025-2026 Teacher of the Year.
- States the House's recognition of her decade-plus career teaching middle school students in three metro Atlanta school systems.
- Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare and distribute a copy of the resolution to Maya Jones.
- Does not create any new law, funding, or ongoing program; it is a one-time honorary statement.

### Who it affects

The resolution directly names Maya Jones, a teacher at Sandtown Middle School. It also references the broader school community, including students and staff at Sandtown Middle School and the New Teachers and PBIS Committees she serves on.

### Why it matters

The resolution carries no legal or financial effect; it does not change any Georgia law or provide funding. Its practical impact is symbolic, giving public recognition from the state legislature to a local educator's career and achievements.

### Key provisions

- The whereas clauses describe Maya Jones's teaching career, including her decade of experience and work across DeKalb County, Atlanta Public Schools, and Fulton County Schools.
- The resolved clause has the House of Representatives commend Maya Jones and wish her continued success.
- A further resolved clause directs the Clerk of the House to make a copy of the resolution available for distribution to Maya Jones.

## Status

- Status: Passed (2026-03-27)
- Last action: House Read and Adopted (2026-03-27)
- Sponsors: Mekyah McQueen
- Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/74542

> The history, votes, and amendments (134 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1971.md?full=1