AO STAFF SPOTLIGHT: Josh Bowyer
Role: Director of Facilities
Years with Tift County: 6
Favorite part of the job: Making a difference in the lives of teachers, staff, students, and families.
Hobbies: Spending time with his family, which is his #1 priority following his relationship with Christ.
Bucket List: Mountain climbing or visiting Israel, where Christ once walked.
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Role: Director of Facilities
Years with Tift County: 6
Favorite part of the job: Making a difference in the lives of teachers, staff, students, and families.
Hobbies: Spending time with his family, which is his #1 priority following his relationship with Christ.
Bucket List: Mountain climbing or visiting Israel, where Christ once walked.
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💉 Is your chid's immunization record up to date?
The Tift County Health Department will host a School Vaccine Catch-Up Clinic on Thursday, August 20, from 3:00–6:00 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome!
This is also a great opportunity to get the vaccinations required for school registration.
📍 305 E. 12th Street, Tifton
📞 For more information, call 229-386-8373.
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The Tift County Health Department will host a School Vaccine Catch-Up Clinic on Thursday, August 20, from 3:00–6:00 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome!
This is also a great opportunity to get the vaccinations required for school registration.
📍 305 E. 12th Street, Tifton
📞 For more information, call 229-386-8373.
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AO STAFF SPOTLIGHT: Joanna Hand
Role: Director of Elementary Education
Years with Tift County: 27
Favorite part of the job: Being part of the work that creates opportunities for every student, teacher, coach, and administrator to learn, grow, and succeed.
Hobbies: Cheering from the sidelines at her children's sporting events and spending quality time with family.
Bucket List: Visiting Hawaii and becoming a published Children’s Author.
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Role: Director of Elementary Education
Years with Tift County: 27
Favorite part of the job: Being part of the work that creates opportunities for every student, teacher, coach, and administrator to learn, grow, and succeed.
Hobbies: Cheering from the sidelines at her children's sporting events and spending quality time with family.
Bucket List: Visiting Hawaii and becoming a published Children’s Author.
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AO STAFF SPOTLIGHT: Mark Wynn
Role: Director of Safety and Security
Years with Tift County: 6
Favorite part of the job: Serving the community, building relationships with law enforcement partners, and creating a safe environment where students can learn and teachers can teach.
Hobbies: Spending time with family.
Bucket List: Taking a vacation to Belize with his wife.
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Role: Director of Safety and Security
Years with Tift County: 6
Favorite part of the job: Serving the community, building relationships with law enforcement partners, and creating a safe environment where students can learn and teachers can teach.
Hobbies: Spending time with family.
Bucket List: Taking a vacation to Belize with his wife.
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AO STAFF SPOTLIGHT: Lorenzo Simmons
Role: Director of School Nutrition
Years with Tift County: 6
Favorite part of the job: Serving students, the community, and stakeholders.
Hobbies: Cooking and landscaping.
Bucket List: Going on a tour of the Great Gardens of the World.
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Role: Director of School Nutrition
Years with Tift County: 6
Favorite part of the job: Serving students, the community, and stakeholders.
Hobbies: Cooking and landscaping.
Bucket List: Going on a tour of the Great Gardens of the World.
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📚💙 Support Public Education Day – Thursday, July 30th 💙📚
Public education is strongest when an entire community comes together to support the success of every student.
At Tift County Schools, we are grateful for the support of our staff, parents, families, business partners, and the entire Tift County community. Your encouragement, partnership, and investment in our schools help create opportunities for every student to learn, grow, and achieve.
Together, we are building a brighter future—because student success is a community effort.
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Public education is strongest when an entire community comes together to support the success of every student.
At Tift County Schools, we are grateful for the support of our staff, parents, families, business partners, and the entire Tift County community. Your encouragement, partnership, and investment in our schools help create opportunities for every student to learn, grow, and achieve.
Together, we are building a brighter future—because student success is a community effort.
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📚 See You Today at Meet the Teacher! 💙
Today's the day! We can't wait to welcome our students and families back to Tift County Schools for Meet the Teacher!
Take this opportunity to:
✨ Meet your teachers
🏫 Explore your school
📚 Drop off school supplies (if applicable)
😊 Reconnect with friends
🎉 Get excited for an amazing 2026–2027 school year!
Today's Schedule
🕓 Grades 6–12: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
🕔 Pre-K–5: 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
If you still need back-to-school information, including school supply lists, registration, transportation, and more, visit:
🌐 www.tiftschools.com/page/back-to-school
We are excited to welcome you back and kick off another incredible year of learning, growth, and success. See you there!
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Today's the day! We can't wait to welcome our students and families back to Tift County Schools for Meet the Teacher!
Take this opportunity to:
✨ Meet your teachers
🏫 Explore your school
📚 Drop off school supplies (if applicable)
😊 Reconnect with friends
🎉 Get excited for an amazing 2026–2027 school year!
Today's Schedule
🕓 Grades 6–12: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
🕔 Pre-K–5: 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
If you still need back-to-school information, including school supply lists, registration, transportation, and more, visit:
🌐 www.tiftschools.com/page/back-to-school
We are excited to welcome you back and kick off another incredible year of learning, growth, and success. See you there!
#4theT
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Four days until the first bell! Together, we’ll create classrooms where every student belongs, learns, and succeeds.
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AO STAFF SPOTLIGHT: Rachael Railey
Role: Special Education Coordinator
Years with Tift County: 3
Favorite part of the job: The system's willingness to collaborate and continually focus on student success.
Hobbies: Playing the piano, reading, and gardening.
Bucket List: To travel anywhere.
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Role: Special Education Coordinator
Years with Tift County: 3
Favorite part of the job: The system's willingness to collaborate and continually focus on student success.
Hobbies: Playing the piano, reading, and gardening.
Bucket List: To travel anywhere.
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AO STAFF SPOTLIGHT: Tammy Slaven
Role: Student Services Coordinator
Years with Tift County: 15
Favorite part of the job: Building relationships with students and their families.
Hobbies: Spending time with her family.
Bucket List: Taking a trip outside of the US.
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Role: Student Services Coordinator
Years with Tift County: 15
Favorite part of the job: Building relationships with students and their families.
Hobbies: Spending time with her family.
Bucket List: Taking a trip outside of the US.
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AO STAFF SPOTLIGHT: Juve Elizalde
Role: Assessment Specialist
Years with Tift County: 14 Years
Favorite part of the job: Having the opportunities to learn and become a better educator in several fields.
Hobbies: Spending time with family.
Bucket List: Visiting Hawaii.
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Role: Assessment Specialist
Years with Tift County: 14 Years
Favorite part of the job: Having the opportunities to learn and become a better educator in several fields.
Hobbies: Spending time with family.
Bucket List: Visiting Hawaii.
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AO STAFF SPOTLIGHT: Larry Howard
Role: Network Services Coordinator
Years with Tift County: 11
Favorite part of the job: Solving problems that help students and staff.
Hobbies: Working outside with his tractor.
Bucket List: Traveling to Australia.
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Role: Network Services Coordinator
Years with Tift County: 11
Favorite part of the job: Solving problems that help students and staff.
Hobbies: Working outside with his tractor.
Bucket List: Traveling to Australia.
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📣 Tomorrow's the Day!
We're excited to welcome our students and families for Meet the Teacher tomorrow, Thursday, July 30!
🕓 Grades 6–12: 4:00–6:00 PM
🕔 PreK–5: 5:00–7:00 PM
Come meet your teachers, see your classrooms, reconnect with friends, and get ready for an incredible 2026–2027 school year.
If you haven't already, check out our Back to School webpage for everything you need to start the year strong:
🌐 www.tiftschools.com/page/back-to-school
We look forward to seeing everyone tomorrow. Let's make this our best year yet!
#4theT
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We're excited to welcome our students and families for Meet the Teacher tomorrow, Thursday, July 30!
🕓 Grades 6–12: 4:00–6:00 PM
🕔 PreK–5: 5:00–7:00 PM
Come meet your teachers, see your classrooms, reconnect with friends, and get ready for an incredible 2026–2027 school year.
If you haven't already, check out our Back to School webpage for everything you need to start the year strong:
🌐 www.tiftschools.com/page/back-to-school
We look forward to seeing everyone tomorrow. Let's make this our best year yet!
#4theT
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High five—we’re five days away! Get ready to reconnect with friends, meet your teachers, and start a brand-new chapter on August 3.
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AO STAFF SPOTLIGHT: Anna Mendoza
Role: Central Support
Years with Tift County: 2.5
Favorite part of the job: Helping my Spanish speaking community by translating.
Hobbies: Shopping.
Bucket List: Visit different countries.
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Role: Central Support
Years with Tift County: 2.5
Favorite part of the job: Helping my Spanish speaking community by translating.
Hobbies: Shopping.
Bucket List: Visit different countries.
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AO STAFF SPOTLIGHT: Shakia Rance
Role: School Nutrition Lead Manager
Years with Tift County: 7
Favorite part of the job: I love knowing that for some of these kids, the meals we serve are the most stable, nutritious food they get all day.
Hobbies: Spending time with family.
Bucket List: Swim with dolphins.
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Role: School Nutrition Lead Manager
Years with Tift County: 7
Favorite part of the job: I love knowing that for some of these kids, the meals we serve are the most stable, nutritious food they get all day.
Hobbies: Spending time with family.
Bucket List: Swim with dolphins.
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AO STAFF SPOTLIGHT: Michelle Archer
Role: District Behavior Specialist
Years with Tift County: 2
Favorite part of the job: Making a meaningful impact across the district and partnering with amazing staff to solve problems and create positive learning environments. Hobbies: Spending time with her daughter, getting lost in a good book, and recharging outdoors at the lake or beach.
Bucket List: Exploring more cities across the United States.
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Role: District Behavior Specialist
Years with Tift County: 2
Favorite part of the job: Making a meaningful impact across the district and partnering with amazing staff to solve problems and create positive learning environments. Hobbies: Spending time with her daughter, getting lost in a good book, and recharging outdoors at the lake or beach.
Bucket List: Exploring more cities across the United States.
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AO STAFF SPOTLIGHT: Kim Winters
Role: Senior Central Registrar
Years with Tift County: 27
Favorite part of the job: Building relationships with staff, students, and parents, and watching students succeed beyond the classroom.
Hobbies: Spending time with family, hanging out with her two pups, and fishing in the flats.
Bucket List: Fishing in Alaska and the Florida Keys.
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Role: Senior Central Registrar
Years with Tift County: 27
Favorite part of the job: Building relationships with staff, students, and parents, and watching students succeed beyond the classroom.
Hobbies: Spending time with family, hanging out with her two pups, and fishing in the flats.
Bucket List: Fishing in Alaska and the Florida Keys.
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AO STAFF SPOTLIGHT: Marcus L. Shelton
Role: CHINS Coordinator
Years with Tift County: 1
Favorite part of the job: The people he gets to work with.
Hobbies: Playing disc golf.
Bucket List: Visiting the Galápagos Islands.
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Role: CHINS Coordinator
Years with Tift County: 1
Favorite part of the job: The people he gets to work with.
Hobbies: Playing disc golf.
Bucket List: Visiting the Galápagos Islands.
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AO STAFF SPOTLIGHT: Jessica Moore
Role: Administrative Assistant to Business Operations
Years with Tift County: 2
Favorite part of the job: Improving efficiency, streamlining processes, and supporting the operations that help our school system thrive.
Hobbies: Long-distance running to stay active, cooking to bring people together, and reading for personal growth.
Bucket List: Restoring her old home to preserve its character and create a gathering place for future generations.
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Role: Administrative Assistant to Business Operations
Years with Tift County: 2
Favorite part of the job: Improving efficiency, streamlining processes, and supporting the operations that help our school system thrive.
Hobbies: Long-distance running to stay active, cooking to bring people together, and reading for personal growth.
Bucket List: Restoring her old home to preserve its character and create a gathering place for future generations.
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