KIPP Atlanta Collegiate High School Teacher Named Districtwide Teacher of the Year

From Atlanta Public Schools:

Jerry Kosoff, math teacher from KIPP Atlanta Collegiate High School, was named Atlanta Public Schools’ (APS) 2016-2017 Districtwide Teacher of the Year during the ApyeS! Awards held October 26 at the Woodruff Arts Center. Kosoff is the first charter school teacher in the history of Atlanta Public Schools to receive this honor.

After graduating from the University of Pittsburgh, Kosoff moved to Atlanta with Teach for America’s 2012 Corps. At the Carver School of Health Sciences and Research, he taught Math IV and Georgia Graduation Test (GGT) preparation classes. Since transitioning to KIPP Atlanta Collegiate in 2014, Kosoff has taught several math courses across 11th and 12th grades, including his personal favorite, AP Calculus. In 2016, Kosoff was named math department chair, overseeing the implementation of rigorous Common-Core aligned curricula. As the APS Districtwide Teacher of the Year, Kosoff will continue on to compete for Georgia Teacher of the Year next spring. APS is home to the 2012 Georgia Teacher of the Year, Dr. Jadun McCarthy; 2013 Georgia Teacher of the Year Finalist, Elisha Gray; 2014 Georgia Teacher of the Year Finalist Tamika N. Ball; and 2015 Georgia Teacher of the Year Finalist Rita L. Simmons.

Finalists for this year’s award included Elementary School Teacher of the Year Jennifer Kraften from Fred Armon Toomer Elementary School and John Wingate from Martin L. King, Jr. Middle School. Candidates for APS Teacher of the Year are nominated by their respective schools. APS then selects an elementary, middle school and high school teacher of the year from a list of semi-finalists to compete for the districtwide honor.

All school-level Teachers of the Year were recognized during the special awards ceremony. Other 2016-2017 APyeS! honorees included:

• Principal of the Year – Stephanie Johnson, Maynard Holbrook Jackson High School
• Assistant Principal of the Year – Dr. Cedric Gilbert, West End Academy
• Schools First Award – Dr. Sheryl Neely, CTAE Counselor, Frederick Douglass High School
• Students First Award – Kori Sanchez Smith, Social Emotional Learning Coordinator
• APS Districtwide Partnership Award – Hands on Atlanta
• APS School-Based Partnership Award – Morehouse School of Medicine

The APyeS! Awards ceremony was sponsored by UPS, Pinnacle Credit Union, Family First Credit Union and Credit Union of Atlanta.

Photo courtesy of Pixabay