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districts across Georgia, helping schools leverage technology and innovative solutions to enhance both safety and learning. Beyond the work that they do in supporting schools, they’re also committed to recognizing individuals who make a meaningful difference in the lives of others. The Hero Award celebrates those who demonstrate courage, compassion, leadership, and service – qualities that strengthen our schools and communities every day,” Superintendent Sandy Reid explained.
Reid shared that the school district reached out to the group to nominate Kelly and Seabury for the award after the women passed away earlier this school year, as Seabury passed away on Saturday, March 7, and Kelly passed away on Tuesday, March 10.
“It's a true privilege to be here tonight. As Dr. Reid mentioned, with Grace Ed Technologies, one of our core missions is to give back to special people, special teachers each year. We know teaching is anybody that's a teacher is someone that has a special heart for kids, and those are the people that are the front row of heaven,” Grace Ed Technologies Owner Brent Coleman remarked. “We only have 12 winners each year, and this is from throughout the Southeast – not only people that are great teachers, but people that are great people, that are above and beyond, extraordinary inside and outside the classroom. We have the true honor, the true privilege of two of these awards going to two individuals here in Vidalia that I understand passed away in the same week, back in March.”
Both women were nominated by Reid, and the nominations were read during the ceremony.
When nominating Kelly, Reid wrote: “Our nominee truly embodies what it means to be a teacher hero through her unwavering dedication, strength of character, and deep love for students. For twenty-six years, she poured her heart into education – serving students in Butts County, Dublin, and for the past decade, at Sally D. Meadows Elementary School. Teaching was never just a job for her; it was her calling.
She believed deeply in the potential of every child and found joy in watching them learn and grow. Her classroom was a place where students felt seen, valued, and encouraged. She led by example, showing kindness, patience, and a genuine commitment to doing what was best for kids – no matter the circumstance.
Even in the face of personal health challenges, her dedication never wavered. She continued to come to school, often not feeling her best, because being with her students mattered that much to her. Just weeks before her passing, she told her husband that she planned to return to the classroom – because teaching children was where her heart belonged.
Beyond the classroom, she lived a life rooted in service and faith. As a member of Connection Church, she invested in children through Konnection Kids, extending her impact far beyond the school walls. She was a source of positivity, encouragement, and strength for her colleagues and her community.
Her legacy is one of love, perseverance, and purpose. She leaves behind a lasting impact on countless students, families, and educators. Today, we honor her not only for the teacher she was, but for the incredible example she set for us all.”
Sally D. Meadows Elementary School Principal Brandon Boston also spoke about Kelly’s legacy. “Mrs. Kelly loved being a teacher. She had a special way of connecting with her students and making each child feel valued, supported, and cared for. She believed in her students, pushed them to do their best, and celebrated their successes both inside and outside of the classroom. She invested not only in her academic growth, but also in the kind of people they were becoming,” he emphasized.
Boston continued, as he shared that Kelly’s work would be seen throughout the lives of her students for years to come, as the impact expanded beyond test scores and years of service, but was found in the confidence she built in her students, the relationships she formed with families, and the care and compassion that she showed every day.
“One thing I will always remember about Mrs. Kelly was her unwavering commitment to her students,” he added. “Even when she was not feeling her best, she showed up because she wanted to do what was best for children. She understood that being present mattered, and she never stopped putting her students first. That dedication and selflessness are just two of the many reasons she was so loved and respected.”
Boston thanked Kelly’s family for “sharing her with the school community,” and emphasized his gratitude for the late teacher. “The lessons she taught, the love she shared, and the difference she made will never be forgotten. [She] will always be a part of the Sally D. Meadows family, and [her] memory will continue to inspire us for years to come,” he emphasized.
Kelly’s husband, Ross; daughter-in-law Cammie, and children Luke, Lason, Serynn, and Amelia accepted the award and a check for $526 from Grace Ed Technologies on her behalf.
Next, J.R. Trippe Middle School Special Education Teacher Leslie Seabury was honored.
Seabury was also nominated by Superintendent Reid, who wrote: “Our nominee was the kind of teacher you don’t forget – the kind who changed lives not through one big moment, but through the quiet, daily decision to show up and fight for kids who needed her most. A graduate of Brewton-Parker College, she served as a special education teacher at J.R. Trippe, and her impact reached far beyond the walls of her classroom.
She was a fierce advocate for students with disabilities – someone who truly believed every child deserved to have a voice and someone in their corner. And she was that person. She fought for her students in every sense of the word. Even in her final days, up until the day before she passed, she was still working – still making sure teachers were equipped, still pushing to ensure her students, especially those with the most significant challenges, were supported and not overlooked.
She didn’t just teach her students – she believed in them. She saw potential where others might not, and she worked tirelessly to give them experiences that built confidence, connection, and joy. She wanted more for them than just getting through the day – she wanted them to be included, to be known, and to truly belong.
She loved her job, and you could feel it. It showed in the way she poured into her students and supported her colleagues. People trusted her, leaned on her, and genuinely loved working alongside her. She represented the very best of what we hope to see in a Teacher of the Year – not just in special education, but across an entire school system.
Her faith was the foundation of who she was, and she found joy in homesteading, reading, and studying her Bible. But her greatest joy was serving others – especially her students.
Her legacy is deeply personal to so many. She was more than an outstanding educator – she was a relentless advocate, a steady source of strength, and a reminder of what it truly means to love and serve children with your whole heart.”
J.R. Trippe Middle School Principal Eric Mc-Donald could not attend the ceremony because of sickness, but Vidalia City Schools Director of Student Services Katrina Blount-Woodard spoke about Seabury on his behalf. She explained that even after retiring from the district as a teacher, Seabury’s commitment to education continued, as she worked as a teacher and consultant to make sure that students within the special education program were receiving the best possible education.
“She was a brilliant educator and leader whose influence extended far beyond her classroom,” Blount-Woodard emphasized. “She championed collaboration, challenged us to think differently, and developed the concept of ‘Core Plus More’ to help special education teachers focus on what matters most for the students. As the leader of the special education team at J.R. Trippe Middle School, she worked tirelessly to ensure that systems were in place to monitor teacher performance, address students’ adaptive and functional needs, provide meaningful community access, and prepare students for successful lives after high school.”
Bl o u n t – Wo o d a rd continued, “Even in her final days, she remained invested in the work, calling to check on the programs and systems she had helped build. Her passion, wisdom, and unwavering dedication left a lasting mark on our district and on all who had the privilege of working alongside her. Her absence will be deeply felt, but her legacy will continue through the countless students she impacted, the educators she mentored, and the systems she helped create. Her presence was a gift, and she will be greatly missed.”
Superintendent Reid and Blound-Woodard also each reflected on their time with Seabury, as they shared that they had worked alongside her at the school as teachers, and had witnessed her dedication and advocacy firsthand.
Seabury’s husband K.C. accepted the Teacher Hero Award and a check for $526 from Grace Ed Technologies on his wife’s behalf. He spoke upon receiving the honor. “You were a teacher at first, and saw something in her that gave her an opportunity,” he told Reid before turning to Blount-Woodard. “You saw something in her to continue that opportunity.”
He explained that he understood that the money presented to him by Grace Ed Technologies was a gift meant to be used for whatever Seabury’s family saw fit, and for that reason, he wanted to donate the funds to the district’s special education department. “In the spirit of Leslie, she gives and gives. This money is going to be given to the special education department to do whatever they see fit.”
At the end of the recognition, Reid spoke about the occasion. “I want to thank Grace Ed Technologies for coming and doing this tonight. We have known [them] a long time, and it’s just such an honor to be able to recognize teachers in general, but tonight was super special in taking the opportunity to try to put into words what a loss it was to the families and community, and specifically, Vidalia City Schools [when Kelly and Seabury passed away]. We tried to put that feeling into words tonight, but there really are no words that can explain the feeling of what these ladies brought to Vidalia City Schools, the kids, and their families. It is just a blessing,” she concluded.
ADVOCATING FOR STUDENTS – Late J.R. Trippe Middle School Teacher Leslie Seabury was championed for her fierce advocacy to ensure every student was receiving the best possible education for them. L to R: Grace Ed Technologies Director of Sales, Marketing, and Events Tatum Gerrells; Director of Student Services Katrina Blount-Woodard; Superintendent Sandy Reid; K.C. Seabury; Grace Ed Technologies Owner Brent Coleman.Photo by Makaylee Randolph
