Leigha Burnham, the dedicated library media specialist at Summerville Middle School (SMS), has been recognized as a 2025 Rural Educator of Excellence by the Office of Rural Education & Innovation at the Georgia Department of Education. The prestigious award was presented by Dr. Bronwyn Ragan-Martin, Deputy Superintendent, during the school’s annual Awards Day ceremonies on Wednesday, May 21st. The award recognizes Ms. Burnham’s outstanding contributions to education within a rural setting and her commitment to fostering a love of reading and learning within the Summerville community. Following the ceremony, Ms. Burnham was honored with a special reception held in the SMS library. Attendees included Dr. Michelle Helie, CCS Superintendent; Mrs. Kelli Johnson, Director of Special Education; the SMS administrative team, and several teachers from the SMS literacy team. The celebration acknowledged Ms. Burnham’s dedication and the positive impact she has had on the students and faculty at Summerville Middle School.