Mayor’s education awards honors teachers, students in Smyrna

The Mayor’s Education Awards Dinner and Ceremony for the City of Smyrna was recently held at the Smyrna Community Center. Teachers, students, and supporters at 16 Smyrna schools were honored during the invitation-only event. 

The Mayor’s Education Awards was created by former Mayor Max Bacon in 2006 to showcase his support for education in the community. In addition to opening remarks by Smyrna Mayor Derek Norton, the program included a welcome from Smyrna native and Atlanta Braves game announcer Mark Owens.  

Among the awardees were Melissa Martinez, a teacher at Smyrna Elementary; Russell Elementary volunteers Mike and Teresa Maurer; and the Marietta-Roswell alumnae chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Inc., which serves as a business partner to the International Academy of Smyrna. Nearly 50 students were also honored. The full list of honorees includes: 

• Argyle Elementary School’s Outstanding Student Award recipients were Jaisle Diaz, Ezequiel Gatica and Emily Par.
• Belmont Hills Elementary School’s Outstanding Student Award recipients were Madison Barton, Yuliana Lara and Natmari Silva-Gonzalez.
• Campbell High School’s Outstanding Student Award recipients were Ola Braddock, Alex Hall and Sierra Smith.
• Campbell Middle School’s The Outstanding Student Award recipients were Juan Arreola, Taraji Nelson-Russell and Ashwindh Ramesh.
• Covenant Christian School’s The Outstanding Student Award recipients were Zachary Cobham, Josie Nowlin and Alyssa Walker.
• Green Acres Elementary School’s Outstanding Student Award recipients were Katie Gonzalez-Zamora, Stephanie Vicente Lopez and Mareli Ortiz.
• Griffin Middle School’s Outstanding Student Award recipients were Fatou Diop, Peter Hayes and Hollis Phipps.
• International Academy of Smyrna’s Outstanding Student Award recipients were Kevin Gauilar, Alejandra Alvarado and Vera Wong.
• King Springs Elementary School’s Outstanding Student Award recipients were Jordan Korkki, Diarra Labarrie and Jackson Zaring.
• Nickajack Elementary School’s Outstanding Student Award recipients were Jonathan Burks, Mikaela Hamilton and Penelope Potichko.
• Norton Park Elementary School’s Outstanding Student Award recipients were Sonia Alonso, Frinchesca Bigot and Nasir Davis.
• Russell Elementary School’s Outstanding Student Award recipients were Rainaaz Ahmed, Chandra Butts an Dania Ruiz Romero
• Smyrna Elementary School’s Outstanding Student Award recipients were Leonel Salgado Mojica, River Simonson and Runny Zavala
• St. Benedict’s Episcopal School’s Outstanding Student Award recipients were Chase Easley, Ellie Protos and Laksha Shroff.
• Teasley Elementary School’s Outstanding Student Award recipients were Aiden Butler, Tristan Shaidi and Ava Stettler.

Whitefield Academy’s Outstanding Student Award recipients were Caroline Kern, Asher Ryan and Madison Shaw.

Special Recognition Award Honorees were:

• Teacher of the Year Melissa Martinez of Smyrna Elementary School.
• Volunteer of the Year Mike and Teresa Maurer of Russell Elementary School.
• Business Partner of the Year Delta Sigma Theta, Inc. Marietta-Roswell Alumnae Chapter at the International Academy of Smyrna.

Said Mayor Norton of the honorees, “It is so important to give special recognition to our students and educators in Smyrna.” Norton and members of the Council are proud to carry on the tradition of honoring outstanding students and educators from Smyrna area schools for academic excellence and citizenship. 

Due to Covid, there was not an awards ceremony in 2020 or 2021, so this 2022 event was of great importance as Smyrna was able to honor students, teachers and other partners on this special occasion.