During the Dalton Public Schools annual Employee Convocation, Zach Clifton was honored as the 2024 Dalton Teacher of the Year. Clifton, a 6th-grade Social Studies teacher at Hammond Creek Middle School, has been honored for his exceptional contributions to education and his dedication to student success.
Clifton joined Dalton Public Schools in 2020 after earning his bachelor's and master's degrees in social studies education from the University of Georgia. His dedication to teaching and his ability to inspire students have earned him numerous accolades, including being named the January 2023 Dalton Daily Citizen Teacher of the Month and the October 2024 HCMS Teacher of the Month. This spring, he was selected as Hammond Creek Middle School's Teacher of the Year, leading to his recognition at the district level.
Reflecting on his journey to becoming a teacher, Clifton shared, "My experiences in school as a student were always positive and fulfilling, but it wasn't until my freshman year in college that I considered teaching as a career. A pivotal conversation with my history professor, Dr. Berry, ignited my passion for making history come alive for young minds. I realized that my love for history was matched by my desire to impact lives, and I knew that teaching was my calling."
Clifton's teaching philosophy is built around the "three R's" – relationships, relevance, and reflection. He believes that building authentic relationships with students fosters a classroom environment where they feel valued and motivated. By making social studies relevant to their lives, he engages students in meaningful learning experiences. His commitment to reflection ensures continuous improvement in his teaching practices.
"I wake up every day excited to make an impact on my students' lives," Clifton said. "My goal is for every student to feel comfortable learning and participating in my class. The best part of teaching is seeing students enjoy learning, discussing, and collaborating with their peers."
In addition to his classroom achievements, Clifton is a mentor and leader at Hammond Creek Middle School, emphasizing the importance of mentorship in education.
Outside of school, Clifton is deeply involved in the Dalton community. He volunteers at extracurricular activities, coaches his nephew's sports teams, and participates in community service initiatives such as can drives and church activities.
"Being a teacher goes beyond the classroom," Clifton said. "It's about supporting students in all aspects of their lives and giving back to the community."
Dalton Public Schools is proud to recognize Zach Clifton as the 2024 Dalton Teacher of the Year, celebrating his passion, dedication, and remarkable impact on students and colleagues alike.
As the Teacher of the Year, Clifton received a one-year lease to a new Ford car thanks to Ford of Dalton. He also received a check for $750 as the district Teacher of the Year, a check for $300 for his honor as the school teacher of the year, and a new rug courtesy of Shaw Industries.
The financial awards were made possible through donations from partnering businesses: Dalton Utilities, Ford of Dalton, First Student, KRH Architects Incorporated, Reeves and Young, Coldwell Realty, J.W. Buckley & Associates, Inc., H.E. Hodge Company, CWC, and AdaptToSolve, Inc.
We also would like to thank First Student for their gift in-kind of transportation to the event for staff and Ford of Dalton for the free one-year car lease for the Teacher of the Year.
Each of the School-level teacher of the year winners received a $300 check.
Other School-level teacher of the year honorees included: Jodi Brown, Caitlin Autry, Amber Dean, Emily Fee, Brittany Hendon, Rosa Martinez Fraire, Dalia Santiago, Zach Miller, and Ward Satterfield.