Smyrna Teacher Named Educator of the Year

The Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning has named Zina Hadjaz, a French teacher at The Quadrilingual Academy in Smyrna, as the Educator of the Year. Hadjaz was surprised with the prestigious award during a special celebration with colleagues and representatives from the department.

As part of her recognition, Hadjaz received a $3,000 personal award from the Georgia Foundation for Early Care and Learning, along with $2,000 for a classroom makeover. In her new role as Georgia’s Teacher of the Year, Hadjaz will represent the state at various educational events and participate in specialized training over the next year. To support her participation, The Quadrilingual Academy also received $2,500 to cover travel costs and substitute teacher stipends.

Hadjaz, who has been teaching infants aged 1 to 16 months at the academy since June 2023, expressed her gratitude for the honor and the opportunity to contribute further to early childhood education. The schools’ website says Hadjza is a native French Speaker from Algeria. She received a bachelor’s degree in English as a second language in 2011 and has been working with kids since 2013. She speaks four languages: French, Arabic, Berber, and English.

The Quadrilingual Academy is an early learning institution offering instruction in Spanish, French, Chinese, and English to children aged 1 to 9, with the goal of fostering fluency in all four languages.

Ericka Garcia, Director of Operations at the academy, praised Hadjaz’s dedication, calling the award a significant achievement for both her and the school community. “This recognition highlights Zina’s exceptional passion for teaching and the positive impact she has on her students,” said Garcia. “It also reflects the high standards and commitment to excellence we uphold as a school.”

The Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning annually honors three educators statewide in the categories of Infant Teacher of the Year (0-15 months), Toddler Teacher of the Year (15-36 months), and Preschool Teacher of the Year (36-48 months). Nominees are selected through an online application process and evaluated through classroom observations and interviews conducted by a panel of early childhood experts.