Tift County Schools Honored at GAEL Conference

High school principal and district recognized for achievements

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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The Tift County Schools Board of Education celebrated two prestigious awards received by the district at the recent Georgia Association of Educational Leaders (GAEL) conference. Tift County High School principal Jennifer Johnson was awarded the Dr. Jimmy Stokes Distinguished Service award, and the school district as a whole was recognized with the 2025-2026 GAEL Vision Award for its investment in professional development for district leaders.

Why it matters

These awards highlight the commitment and excellence of the Tift County school system in providing quality education and supporting its administrators. The recognition from GAEL, a statewide organization of educational leaders, underscores Tift County's reputation as a high-performing district focused on professional development and continuous improvement.

The details

At the Tift County Schools Board of Education meeting, members congratulated principal Jennifer Johnson on receiving the Dr. Jimmy Stokes Distinguished Service award from GAEL. The award recognizes Johnson's outstanding service and representation of both Tift County High School and the district as a whole. The school district also received the 2025-2026 GAEL Vision Award, which is given to systems that have demonstrated a marked investment in professional development for their school leaders.

  • The Tift County Schools Board of Education meeting where the awards were celebrated took place on Thursday, February 13, 2026.
  • The GAEL conference where the awards were presented was held in 2026.

The players

Jennifer Johnson

The principal of Tift County High School, who received the Dr. Jimmy Stokes Distinguished Service award from GAEL.

Dana Spurlin

The chief information officer for Tift County Schools, who noted Johnson's exceptional representation of the high school and district.

Natalie Gore

The superintendent of Tift County Schools, who reported that this was the school system's second year in a row receiving the GAEL Vision Award.

Tift County Schools

The school district that received the 2025-2026 GAEL Vision Award for its investment in professional development for district leaders.

Georgia Association of Educational Leaders (GAEL)

The statewide organization that presented the awards to Tift County Schools and its principal.

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What they’re saying

“Jennifer Johnson had done an exceptional job in representing both the high school and the school district as a whole at the conference.”

— Dana Spurlin, Chief Information Officer, Tift County Schools (tiftongazette.com)

“This was the school system's second year in a row receiving the award.”

— Natalie Gore, Superintendent, Tift County Schools (tiftongazette.com)

The takeaway

The awards received by Tift County Schools and its principal demonstrate the district's commitment to excellence in education, strong leadership, and investment in professional development for its administrators. This recognition from the Georgia Association of Educational Leaders underscores Tift County's reputation as a high-performing school system focused on continuous improvement and supporting its educators.