BY KADIE TAYLOR
THE OBSERVER
AUBURN — At the April 14 Auburn School Board Meeting, the board recognized the 2025-2026 Teachers of the Year.
“As you can see, there is a lot of joy inside the classrooms of Auburn City Schools,” said Auburn City Schools Superintendent Dr. Cristen Herring. “I’m incredibly privileged to work with outstanding educators who love our students, who serve our families and support all the activities in this community. Our principals this evening are going to introduce their school’s Teacher of the Year, and then it’ll be my pleasure to celebrate the elementary and secondary Teacher of the Year for Auburn City Schools.
The Teachers of the Year include:
- Jenny Galimore of Dean Road Elementary and ACS Elementary Teacher of the Year
- Naomi Bergh of Auburn High School and ACS Secondary Teacher of the Year
- Haleigh Rusk of Creekside Elementary
- Catherine Riley of East Samford School
- Mojen Lau of Auburn Early Education Center
- Kaila Sutterfield of Cary Woods Elementary
- Tina Williams of Yarbrough Elementary
- Becky Funderburk of Pick Elementary
- Patience Melius of Woodland Pines Elementary
- Daly Diaz of Richland Elementary
- Lucy Gilmore of Wrights Mill Road Elementary
- Walter Nash of Auburn Junior High School
- Jeramiya Kitchens Drake Middle School
- Jim Plaster of Ogletree Elementary
In Other Business
- The board approved the minutes from the March 17 regular session and the April 6 special session.
- The board approved the financial statements and cash reconciliation for March 2026.
- The board approved the textbooks for fine arts and social studies.
- The board rejected the Auburn Early Education Center mechanical system replacement, Phase 1, at the request of Dr. Herring.
“This evening, I’m recommending the rejection of both bids that were received for the HVAC renovation project,” she said. “This was planned to be phase one, but we would like to regroup and replan. So, please this evening, I would request that you reject both bids related to the mechanical system at Auburn.” - The board approved the bid results for Auburn Junior High School Gym mechanical system replacement from Bradley Plumbing and Heating Inc. of Montgomery for $1,647,000.
- The board approved the Auburn High School canopy connector enclosure from Gamble Winter Construction of Auburn for $1,467,124.
- The board approved the Sanitary Sewer Easement for transportation/maintenance property.
- The board approved the personnel recommendations.
- The board voted to appoint Blake Prestridge and Brad Chynoweth to the Nominating Committee for the 2026-2027 officers.
Announcements
- There will be Career and Technical Education Awards on April 28 at 6 p.m. at the Auburn High School Auditorium.
- There will be a Retirees Recognition Ceremony on May 12 at 5:25 p.m. at the Auburn Junior High School Multi-Media Room.
