AU’s Future Georgia Educators Day motivates next generation of teachers

When Florence Watanyar, an 11th-grade student at Evans High School, was asked who inspired her to pursue a career in teaching, she had an immediate answer: Her Spanish teacher, Gesella Lopez.

“I’m interested in being a teacher, thanks to Ms. Lopez. Big shoutout to Ms. Lopez,” Watanyar said, cheering. “She is the kind of teacher who is really close to her students. I love the way she’s compassionate with everyone. It made me think I want to make a change in other people’s lives like she does.”

To help inspire students like Watanyar to become the next generation of teachers, Augusta University’s College of Education and Human Development welcomed hundreds of area high school students to the Summerville Campus for Future Georgia Educators Day on Nov. 19. 

The daylong event, hosted in partnership with the Professional Association of Georgia Educators, featured workshops, a college fair and a keynote speaker, all with the goal of preparing students for their future in teaching.

Judi Wilson, EdD, dean of the College of Education and Human Development, said this annual event aims to encourage students who are passionate about education to follow their calling.

“Our president, Dr. Russell Keen, says over and over that every interaction matters. I want that to sink in. Every interaction matters, and I so hope and pray that each of you felt welcomed, appreciated, valued and seen as you came here today,” Wilson told the hundreds of local high school students gathered in the Grover C. Maxwell Performing Arts Theatre. “Thank you for thinking about becoming a future educator. Lots and lots of people tried to talk me out of going into education almost 40 years ago. And I’m so glad and so grateful that I did not listen to them.”

While the national retention rate for education graduates is approximately 40%, Augusta University boasts a retention rate for COEHD graduates of 95%. Wilson said this event helps give students the chance to familiarize themselves with Augusta University’s campus and envision their future as educators. 

“I have had an incredible career as an educator, as a teacher, as a school administrator, as a district administrator, as a professor and then a leader here that hopefully influences the influencers, which is you, here in the room,” Wilson told the students. “Do not allow anyone to talk you out of being a teacher. The blessings that you get are far greater than the challenges that you’ll face.

“Teachers change the world one child at a time,” she added. “We are so glad that you’re here, and we hope that you’ll continue thinking about becoming an educator.”

AU welcomes Georgia Teacher of the Year

Rachel Kinsaul, the 2026 Georgia Teacher of the Year and keynote speaker at AU’s Future Georgia Educators Day, joked that she had a particularly unusual naysayer who didn’t want her to go into teaching.  

“I just wanted to testify that my mother was one of those naysayers,” said Kinsaul, laughing. “Every time she shares something on Facebook, she likes to remind people that, ‘I tried to talk her out of it.’”

But Kinsaul, an agricultural science teacher at Morgan County High School in Madison, Georgia, said she discovered her career in teaching while working at the Teton Valley Ranch Camp in Wyoming. 

“I never thought I would become a teacher. I was a horse kid. I participated in rodeos in high school,” she said. “I ended up going to a kids’ ranch camp in Wyoming, and I loved it. I spent all four summers of college there, and what I loved about it was the wonderful chaos. I loved working with the kids. I loved teaching kids from all across the country about horses.”

When she returned to college after spending her first summer at the camp, she told her adviser about her camp experience. 

“He said, ‘Have you ever thought about being an AG teacher?’ And I said, ‘An AG teacher? What’s that?’” Kinsaul said, chuckling. “I didn’t even know what that was. But it was something I was very interested in because I loved working with kids, and I loved AG, and that was a way to combine them both.” 

Now, with 15 years of classroom experience, Kinsaul teaches high school students courses such as agricultural science, forest science, general horticulture and floral design. 

Kinsaul said that preparing her students to be productive community members is her most important job. She focuses her efforts on pushing students to find the best versions of themselves by becoming community leaders through agricultural education.

“You, as a teacher, get to grow leaders,” she said. “Every single career starts with a teacher.”

‘Excitement is contagious’

At Morgan County High School, Kinsaul created a floral design class, where students gain real-world experience by managing a monthly floral arrangement subscription program and providing arrangements for weddings in the local community. 

She has even had some of her former students request the floral design class to put together the flowers for their weddings. 

“My students are challenged to work in different groups, learn about different classroom personalities, capitalize on each other’s strengths and get the job done,” she said. “In my classroom, we all work together to accomplish a common goal that has a positive impact on the community.”

Kinsaul also initiated the school’s Sophomore Service Day to connect students with community service opportunities and led a successful $501,059 fundraising effort to construct the Morgan County Agricultural Learning Lab. 

This lab is a state-of-the-art agriculture barn on the school’s campus where students raise livestock and deepen their agricultural knowledge through experiential livestock education. 

Kinsaul said the key to success in her classroom is making learning exciting. 

“When I worked in the camp in Wyoming, the one big takeaway that I got from that experience was our director used to always say, ‘Excitement is contagious. If you’re excited about picking up poop in the barn, which is the worst job on the camp, then the kids will be, too,” Kinsaul said. “I think that is true. If I am excited, the kids are, too.” 

Kuria Dixon, an 11th-grade student at Westside High School, said she enjoyed the event’s workshops, college fair and the advice from Kinsaul. 

“Ever since I was younger, when teachers taught us about something with fun activities, it stuck with me,” Dixon said. “That’s why I want to teach kindergarten because I love working with little kids and teaching them lifelong skills using exciting games. It’s just fun to see them growing up and enjoying learning.”

Giovanna Gilbert, an 11th-grade student at Evans High School, said AU’s Future Georgia Educators Day made her truly consider becoming a teacher. 

“I know teaching is important, not just to educate young minds, but to help students become a part of something better,” Gilbert said. “I want to help my future students become the best people they can be.”