Join GSTA for a lively conversation with two incredible educators, 2025 Georgia Teacher of the Year, Holly Witcher, and 2025 Georgia Teacher of the Year Runner up, Alicia Reno. They will share their roles as well as what they have learned about advocacy and policy at the state level as ambassadors for public education. Ask questions about about how they can elevate the voices of Science and STEM educators.

In her current role as 2025 Georgia Teacher of the Year, Holly Witcher serves as an ex-officio member of the State Board of Education. Sitting on the board provides her with an opportunity to voice how proposed budget, rules, and district flexibility items impact students and teachers in the classroom. In her role this year she has also been invited to speak to the Senate Educational Committee on topics related to teacher retention and attrition and continues to engage in the legislative session serving as a voice for teachers across the state. Witcher serves on the State School Superintendent’s Teacher Advisory Council acting as a liaison between teachers and the Georgia Department of Education.

Witcher has dedicated herself to becoming a lifelong learner, continually pursuing endorsements to best meet the needs of the students she serves. She is a firm believer that parents, teachers, and community members are vital to a student’s success. She advocates for collaboration between all parties, with her message, “You matter,” emphasizing the important role that everyone plays.

Alicia Reno is a National Board Certified STEM teacher at Talley Street Upper Elementary in Decatur, GA. In 2024, Alicia was selected as the Talley Street Upper Elementary Teacher of the Year and subsequently City Schools of Decatur District Teacher of the Year. She was named a finalist for Georgia Teacher of the Year and is currently serving as the first runner-up. She is a member of the Educational Policy Fellowship Program through the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education and is excited to be an ex-officio board member of the Georgia Foundation for Public Education both of which allow her to discuss policy with members of the Georgia Department of Education, Georgia legislators, and community members involved with policy development. A product of the public school system in Georgia, Alicia is thrilled to take advantage of the opportunities that have come her way with the Georgia Teacher of the Year program and is excited about her putting her passion for educational policy and teacher retention into practice. She is also a member of GSTA!