At Thursday’s Cobb Board of Education meeting, the recognitions included three arts and music teachers at East Cobb schools.
An impromptu moment took place before one of the photo ops with the school board when the son of Keheley Elementary School art teacher Michelle Yoo ran up to hug her.
She was being honored as the Cobb County School District’s Elementary School Visual Arts Specialist of the Year.
The boy remained as the photo was taken, then hugged her again as the crowd applauded.
Yoo has “consistently demonstrated excellence in the visual arts instruction during her career in the Cobb County School District,” CCSD chief of staff Sheri Hill said during the recognition, which noted “her innovative teaching methods, captivating and engaging students and fostering a deeper appreciation for the arts.”
Dr. Kathleen Petka of Walton High School was recognized as the 2025-2026 Georgia Art Education Association Youth Art Month Art Educator of the Year.
And Dodgen Middle School’s Ashley Culley was recognized 2025-2026 Georgia Chapter of the American String Teacher Association Teacher of the Year (previous story here).
Other recognitions from East Cobb schools on Thursday included the following:
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Cobb County School District Arts Integration Certification – Tritt Elementary School
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2025–2026 GHSA Class 5A Swim & Dive – Girls Overall State Champions – Lassiter High School
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2025–2026 GHSA Class 5A Swim & Dive – 100 Yard Breaststroke Girls State Champion – Ashlyn Loftin, Lassiter High School
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2025 – 2026 GHSA Class 5A Swim & Dive – Boys Overall State Champions – Lassiter High School
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2025 – 2026 GHSA Class 5A Swim & Dive – 50 Yard Freestyle Boys State Champion – Gavin Halusic, Lassiter High School
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2025 – 2026 GHSA Class 5A Swim & Dive – 200 Yard Freestyle Relay Boys State Champions – Ethan Jones, Nick Nurnberg, Lincoln Holder, and Gavin Halusic, Lassiter High School
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2025 – 2026 GHSA Class 5A Swim & Dive – 400 Yard Freestyle Relay Boys State Champions – Gavin Halusic, Alex O’Brien, Ethan Jones, and Raef Jollands, Lassiter High School
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2025 – 2026 GHSA Class 6A Swim & Dive – 100 Yard Breaststroke Girls State Champion – Caroline Hughes, Wheeler High School
Related:
- East Cobb students named Cobb Water photography winners
- Walton student advances to regional STAR competition
- Dodgen MS teacher honored by music educators association
- Walton freshman writes epic fantasy novel
- Rocky Mount ES teacher and coach arrested on incest charges
- East Cobb preschool rallies around teacher battling cancer
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