--- title: SR 169. Columbus State University Alumni; commend collection: bills id: 2025-2026/sr169 cite_as: SR 169, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr169 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr169.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr169/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70177 date: 2025-02-12 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/sr168.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr170.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 94 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr169.md?full=1 bill_number: SR 169 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: Senate bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-02-12 last_action: Senate Read and Adopted sponsors: - Ed Harbison - Randy Robertson text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR169/2025 upstream_id: 1965791 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - Muscogee County schools - teacher recognition - Columbus State University - Georgia Senate resolution --- # SR 169. Columbus State University Alumni; commend ## Text Senate Resolution 169 By: Senators Harbison of the 15th and Robertson of the 29th A RESOLUTION Commending the Columbus State University alumni honored as 2025 Muscogee County School District Teachers of the Year; and for other purposes. WHEREAS, a proper quality education for the young people of this state is the single most important objective of the General Assembly; and WHEREAS, the Muscogee Educational Excellence Foundation, which oversees the Teacher of the Year selection and recognition process for Muscogee County, announced this year's honorees on January 16, 2025, at Columbus State University's Legacy Hall; and WHEREAS, the following individuals are Columbus State University alumni who have been chosen by their schools as 2025 Muscogee County School District Teachers of the Year: April Allen, Baker Middle; Karissa Branch, Northside High; Heaven Briggs, Rothschild Leadership Academy; Meghann Burnett, Reese Road Elementary; Beth Carlisle, Clubview Elementary; Jamila Collington, Wesley Heights Elementary; Tracy Comer, Fox Elementary; Alexandra Countryman, South Columbus Elementary; Dakota Crawford, Mary A. Buckner Academy; Jill Davis, North Columbus Elementary; Mandi Farmer, Blanchard Elementary; Aaron Guest, Spencer High; Eretha Hamilton-Smith, Double Churches Middle; Kenisha Huff, Blackmon Road Middle; Aura Johnson, Key Elementary; Marta Lopez, Rainey-McCullers School of the Arts; Timothy Murphy, Fort Service-Learning Magnet Academy; Jennifer Parker, Lonnie Jackson Academy; Melanie Parrish, Mathews Elementary; Christie Scarbrough, Veterans Memorial Middle; Abby Serrano, Eagle Ridge Academy; Amber Slater, Dimon Magnet Academy; Sherri Smith, River Road Elementary; Brandon Sweeney, Hardaway High; Courtney Warren, Downtown Elementary; Amanda Zarate, Wynnton Arts Academy; and German Zurita, Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary; 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 these outstanding educators. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body commend the Columbus State University alumni honored as 2025 Muscogee County School District Teachers of the Year as well as extend sincere best wishes for continued success. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the public and the press. ## 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 Senate resolution commends 27 Columbus State University alumni who were named 2025 Teachers of the Year across Muscogee County schools, with no changes to Georgia law. ### Plain-language summary This is a ceremonial resolution from the Georgia Senate rather than a law that changes anyone's rights or duties. It recognizes 27 Columbus State University graduates who were selected by their individual schools as 2025 Muscogee County School District Teachers of the Year, an honor announced by the Muscogee Educational Excellence Foundation on January 16, 2025 at Columbus State University's Legacy Hall. The resolution lists each honoree by name and school, ranging from elementary schools like Fox Elementary and Clubview Elementary to high schools like Hardaway High and Spencer High. It formally commends these educators and wishes them continued success, and directs the Secretary of the Senate to make copies available to the public and the press. ### What it does - Formally commends 27 Columbus State University alumni named 2025 Teachers of the Year in the Muscogee County School District. - Lists each honoree's name alongside the specific school where they teach. - Directs the Secretary of the Senate to make copies of the resolution available to the public and press. - Creates no new law, funding, or requirement; it is a symbolic statement of recognition by the Senate. ### Who it affects The 27 named teachers and their schools within the Muscogee County School District, Columbus State University as their alma mater, and the Muscogee Educational Excellence Foundation, which runs the local Teacher of the Year selection process. ### Why it matters The resolution has no legal effect and changes no Georgia law, but it gives official Senate recognition to local educators, which can be used for public acknowledgment, records, or ceremonies honoring their work in Muscogee County schools. ### Key provisions - The preamble explains that the Muscogee Educational Excellence Foundation announced the 2025 honorees on January 16, 2025 at Columbus State University's Legacy Hall. - The resolution names all 27 honored teachers and their respective schools within the Muscogee County School District. - The resolving clause formally commends the honorees and extends best wishes for continued success. - A final clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-02-12) - Last action: Senate Read and Adopted (2025-02-12) - Sponsors: Ed Harbison, Randy Robertson - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70177 > The history, votes, and amendments (94 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr169.md?full=1