A high school oceanography teacher who encourages students to use their

voice and love science is the 2025 Gwinnett County Public Schools Teacher of the Year (TOTY). On December 7, Gwinnett County Public Schools announced Jenna Cloninger of Central Gwinnett High School as the recipient of the school district’s highest teaching honor. This year’s celebratory event was held at the Gas South Convention Center. The district rolled out the red carpet for all 141 local school Teachers of The Year, including the six TOTY finalists, 19 other outstanding educators honored as semifinalists, their guests, and an audience including principals, district staff, and event sponsors. The event will be rebroadcast on GCPSTV during the month of December on the GCPS website and via the GCPS TV app.

Before earning the school system’s top honor, Cloninger was named the 2025 Gwinnett County High School Teacher of the Year. She was selected as Gwinnett’s top teacher from a group of six finalists, narrowed to three level winners. Michelle Ruhl of Sugar Hill Elementary School is Gwinnett’s 2025 Elementary School Teacher of the Year, and Michael Payen of Five Forks Middle School is Gwinnett’s 2025 Middle School Teacher of the Year.

The TOTY selection process began at the start of the school year when teachers from throughout the district nominated and selected 141 teachers to represent their local schools. A selection committee later narrowed the group to 25 semifinalists and then a second committee narrowed the group to the six finalists. In addition to the three-level winners—Mrs. Ruhl, Mr. Payen, and Ms. Cloninger—the other three finalists were Heather Kane of Lovin Elementary School, Treva Coates of Osborne Middle School, and Halie Rios of Paul Duke STEM High School.

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Gwinnett County Teacher of the Year and High School Teacher of the Year 

Jenna Cloninger, 10th - 12th Grade Oceanography Teacher, Central Gwinnett High School
(5 years in education, all with GCPS)

Jenna Cloninger believes that Science is for everyone. “I create an inclusive environment in my classroom by honoring student voice and choice. As developing adults, I recognize that my high school students are eager to speak their minds,” she explains. “When students feel safe and supported, rather than frustrated and embarrassed, they are more likely to consistently attend their classes and do their best work.” Mrs. Cloninger strives to support district goals by providing a “culturally relevant curriculum to my students in engaging ways. By the end of the school year, students have a rich understanding of how the ocean impacts each and every person on the planet, regardless of background or status.” Mrs. Cloninger is also proud of her positive impact on the school community through ‘S.H.I.E.L.D.,’ an initiative she supported that offers tutoring services through a collaborative approach. “[S.H.I.E.L.D.] has improved our school’s culture by providing a positive learning environment in which students do not feel that tutoring is a punishment or a chore,” she says.

Cloninger began her teaching career in 2018 at Central Gwinnett High School. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of North Georgia and a master’s degree in Instructional Technology from Kennesaw State University.

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Gwinnett County Middle School Teacher of the Year

Michael Payen, 6th - 8th Grade Music Technology Teacher, Five Forks Middle School

(7 years in education, all with GCPS)

Michael Payen believes all students have the potential for greatness. “I help them achieve it by teaching positive social interactions, making meaningful connections, never giving up on students, and constantly striving to be better than the day before.” He started the Music Technology program at Five Forks Middle School in his second year of teaching, aiming to develop the student’s skills from beginner to advanced over three semesters. He also created a Choral Composition Program during the pandemic that he hopes to introduce to high school students to reteach healthy communicative practices. “Since returning ‘back to normal,’ I have witnessed the damage that being away from other children had on our students,” he says. “As such, my philosophy has adapted to include modeling and fostering a positive learning environment that will help encourage learning for all students at the highest level.” Mr. Payen also ensures that all students have the same opportunities by applying for and obtaining grants. He has used the funding to purchase a sound booth for recording, audio/visual equipment for multimedia learning, and microphones. Mr. Payen's passion goes beyond music. In 2017, he helped students start a free Soccer Club. Through fundraising and community awareness, they were able to help 100 students of all abilities play soccer each week from September to May. “I passionately believe that soccer can be utilized to impact the lives of many more students in the county, and I am deeply committed to making it a reality,” he says. “Music is one of the only things on earth that the entire planet shares with one another. As a result, I constantly remind students that music from other cultures should be explored and not avoided.”        

Payen began his career with GCPS in 2016 as a Music Technology teacher at Five Forks Middle School. He has a bachelor’s degree in Music from Keele University and a master’s degree in Music Technology from Georgia Southern University.

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Gwinnett County Elementary School Teacher of the Year

Michelle Ruhl, Computer Science, K - 5th Grade Teacher, Sugar Hill Elementary School

(23 years in education, 22 with GCPS)

Michelle Ruhl creates an inclusive classroom by inspiring students to think creatively and solve real-world problems. Her passion is educating Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), and Computer Science with the school and local community. “I want my students to see themselves as part of future innovation,” she shares. “As the first Computer Science teacher at my school, I built a framework aligned with the GCPS CS4ALL initiative. I incorporate the pillars of Computer Science instruction into my daily lessons.” Mrs. Ruhl is most proud of her role in creating and launching a FIRST LEGO® League (FLL) at her school, which led to her school being the first GCPS K-5 school involved in the FLL. “This pilot allowed GCPS to grow its K-3 robotics program from 100 to 500+ students in one year.” In her classroom, students discuss and reflect on how computer scientists connect, communicate, collaborate, create, problem-solve, and persevere. Mrs. Ruhl says. “Students’ perception of computer science has changed from this is hard to look what I can do.”

Ruhl began her teaching career in 2000 in Walton County, then joined GCPS in 2001 as a 3rd grade teacher. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Early Education from Georgia Southern University and a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Scranton.

GCPS would like to thank this year’s sponsors for their support of great teachers and for making this celebration of outstanding teaching possible.

Presenting Sponsor:

• Peach State Federal Credit Union

Platinum Sponsors:

• Coca-Cola Bottling Company United
• Corebridge Financial
• Scholastic Images/Herff Jones

Gold Sponsors:

• Arey Jones Educational Solutions
• Lifetouch School Photography and Yearbooks
• Northside Hospital Gwinnett Duluth
• Purchasing Power

Silver Sponsors:

• Junior Achievement of Georgia
• MarshMcLennan Agency

Bronze Sponsors:

• Gwinnett County Public Schools Foundation
• The Kroger Company
• Office Depot