Brenau University honored seven North Georgia educators recently with the Masters in Teaching award.
The Masters in Teaching award is an annual event that celebrates local educators’ dedication to all areas of education in the Gainesville-Hall County community. The award is a partnership between Brenau and Featherbone Communiversity, and is part of a series of awards to recognize local talent and leadership.
Holly Witcher, 2025 Georgia Teacher of the Year, was the guest speaker. Witcher has been teaching for 23 years across various districts and classroom settings. She was also named White County’s District Teacher of the Year in 2023.
Brenau Associate Professor of Economics Fassil Fanta, Ph.D., was selected as one of this year’s recipients.
“I’m honored to be recognized in this year’s Masters in Teaching. It’s humbling and motivating to be acknowledged alongside many passionate educators,” Fanta said. “This recognition reaffirms my commitment to creating meaningful learning experiences and supporting students in every step of their journey.”
In his teaching, Fanta emphasizes critical thinking and the need to consider economics within its larger social, political and global contexts.
“Teaching is more than a profession—it’s a calling, and I’m grateful every day to be part of the Brenau community where that calling is nurtured and celebrated,” Fanta said.
University of North Georgia Associate Professor of History Phillip Guerty, Ph.D., was also one of this year’s recipients.
“I was honored to be recognized at the Master Teacher event, and it was truly a memorable experience. I was inspired by the incredible work being done by educators across the K-12 and college levels, and the opportunity to connect with such passionate individuals was both humbling and motivating,” Guerty said.
“As an educator, my goal has always been to make history come alive for my students, encouraging them to engage with the past in ways that develop critical thinking skills they can carry with them throughout their lives. I believe teaching is about empowering students not only to learn content but also to analyze, question, and think historically, developing a deeper understanding of the world around them. Events like this remind me of the importance of the work we do as teachers in shaping the future of our students and our communities.”
The event was the 17th Masters in Teaching awards. Gladys Harvey-Peterson, one of the organizers and advising coordinator for Brenau’s Carole Ann Daniel College of Education, said she enjoys seeing the reaction from award winners.
“The award today is not a surprise, but when we initially reach out, it is,” she said. “To see all the amazing things they do as educators … to them, it’s second nature. But it truly is incredible.”
These seven educators were named Masters in Teaching for 2024:
- Rubia Castro Diaz, West Hall High School
- Fassil Fanta, Ph.D., Brenau University
- Phillip Guerty, Ph.D., University of North Georgia
- Kaitlin Jameson, Lakeview Academy
- Michael Myers, Lanier Technical College
- Jillian Sargent, Riverside Preparatory Academy
- Amanda Secunda, Gainesville City Schools
