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.
#4theT
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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.
#4theT
Collaborate | Learn | Achieve
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.
#4theT
Collaborate | Learn | Achieve
📚 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!
#4theT
Collaborate | Learn | Achieve
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
Collaborate | Learn | Achieve
Four days until the first bell! Together, we’ll create classrooms where every student belongs, learns, and succeeds.
#4theT
Collaborate | Learn | Achieve
#4theT
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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.
#4theT
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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.
#4theT
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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.
#4theT
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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.
#4theT
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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.
#4theT
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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.
#4theT
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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.
#4theT
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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.
#4theT
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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
Collaborate | Learn | Achieve
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
Collaborate | Learn | Achieve
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.
#4theT
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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.
#4theT
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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.
#4theT
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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.
#4theT
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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.
#4theT
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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.
#4theT
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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.
#4theT
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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.
#4theT
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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.
#4theT
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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.
#4theT
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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.
#4theT
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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.
#4theT
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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.
#4theT
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AO STAFF SPOTLIGHT: Donna Cooper
Role: Administrative Support CTAE
Years with Tift County: 4.5
Favorite part of the job: Working with a great team of dedicated educators and interacting with students to help create a positive learning environment.
Hobbies: Going to the beach, riding their Ranger, watching movies, and watching her grandchildren play sports.
Bucket List: Seeing the Northern Lights in person.
#4theT
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Role: Administrative Support CTAE
Years with Tift County: 4.5
Favorite part of the job: Working with a great team of dedicated educators and interacting with students to help create a positive learning environment.
Hobbies: Going to the beach, riding their Ranger, watching movies, and watching her grandchildren play sports.
Bucket List: Seeing the Northern Lights in person.
#4theT
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AO STAFF SPOTLIGHT: Michele Nobles
Role: Pre-K Specialist
Years with Tift County: 3
Favorite part of the job: I enjoy working with supportive coworkers who make coming to work enjoyable every day, and I also appreciate the positive relationships we build with students, families, and the community.
Hobbies: I enjoy hanging with my family.
Bucket List: I would love to go to Italy.
#4theT
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Role: Pre-K Specialist
Years with Tift County: 3
Favorite part of the job: I enjoy working with supportive coworkers who make coming to work enjoyable every day, and I also appreciate the positive relationships we build with students, families, and the community.
Hobbies: I enjoy hanging with my family.
Bucket List: I would love to go to Italy.
#4theT
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📚 School Hours for 2026–2027
Please review the school hours for the upcoming school year:
🏫 Grades K–5
Car Rider Drop-Off Begins: 7:05 a.m.
Tardy Bell: 7:35 a.m.
Dismissal: 3:00 p.m.
🏫 Grades 6–12
Car Rider Drop-Off Begins: 7:40 a.m.
Tardy Bell: 8:20 a.m.
Dismissal: 3:45 p.m.
Please note: Car rider drop-off start times may vary slightly by school. Families should check with their child’s school for specific arrival procedures.
We look forward to another great year of collaborating, learning and achieving together!
#4theT
Collaborate | Learn | Achieve
Please review the school hours for the upcoming school year:
🏫 Grades K–5
Car Rider Drop-Off Begins: 7:05 a.m.
Tardy Bell: 7:35 a.m.
Dismissal: 3:00 p.m.
🏫 Grades 6–12
Car Rider Drop-Off Begins: 7:40 a.m.
Tardy Bell: 8:20 a.m.
Dismissal: 3:45 p.m.
Please note: Car rider drop-off start times may vary slightly by school. Families should check with their child’s school for specific arrival procedures.
We look forward to another great year of collaborating, learning and achieving together!
#4theT
Collaborate | Learn | Achieve
Six days remain! Backpacks are getting packed, classrooms are taking shape, and the excitement is building across Tift County Schools.
#4theT
Collaborate | Learn | Achieve
#4theT
Collaborate | Learn | Achieve
