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State School Superintendent Richard Woods has named Christy Todd, the 2024 Georgia Teacher of the Year, as the Georgia Department of Education’s next Chief of Staff.

Todd, the 2024 Georgia Teacher of the Year, went on to lead teacher recruitment and retention projects at the Georgia Department of Education after her tenure. Previously, she spent 15 years teaching in Fayette County Public Schools, following a career in nonprofit consulting and business development. Todd����to launch and lead Teach in the Peach, the agency’s comprehensive,����teacher recruitment initiative.

As Georgia Teacher of the Year, Todd advocated for policies that would make Georgia the #1 state in the nation for teachers to teach. In her role at GaDOE, she has led cross-departmental projects aimed at expanding the teacher pipeline, including developing a��statewide teacher recruitment platform��and organizing signature events such as the first��.

“I firmly believe that the most important job I’ll ever have is being a classroom teacher,”��Todd said.��“Teachers change the future when we help students see their potential. That same belief drives my ‘why’ for stepping into the role of Chief of Staff: to ensure that educators across Georgia have a voice in the spaces where decisions are made – so they can receive the support they need to keep doing the work they love. I’m grateful to Superintendent Woods for his continued commitment to prioritizing teacher voices in the Georgia Department of Education’s work.”

As Chief of Staff, Todd will work closely with agency leadership to advance Superintendent Woods’ vision of preparing all students for life. She stepped into the role on June 1.

“As State School Superintendent, I have focused on transforming the Georgia Department of Education from a compliance-oriented agency to one centered on service and support for school districts,”��Superintendent Woods said.��“That vision will continue and, as I seek a fourth term, I am committed to expanding the resources and supports we provide directly to teachers. Christy’s experience in the classroom, her deep connections with educators across Georgia and the nation, and her leadership in advancing teacher recruitment and retention make her the ideal person to carry this work forward.”

Todd replaces Matt Jones, who served as GaDOE’s Chief of Staff from 2015 to 2025. Jones led the agency’s operations through numerous cornerstone events, including the development of Georgia’s state plans for the Every Student Succeeds Act; the agency’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic; the coordination of whole child supports to overcome nonacademic barriers to learning; the strengthening of Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education opportunities; and a renewed emphasis on supporting rural schools.

“I am deeply grateful for Matt Jones’ work as Chief of Staff of the Department of Education over the last decade,”��Superintendent Woods said.��“We worked hand-in-hand to build a more responsive, service-oriented agency that was grounded in the needs of the classroom and Georgia’s 1.7 million students. Matt will continue to be a valued thought partner for me and for the agency, and I wish him the very best as he moves forward in his career – one I know will always be shaped by his deep commitment to Georgia’s public schools and students.”

This announcement comes after Richard Woods announced his plans to run again for State Superintendent.