Kinchafoonee Primary School’s 2025-2026 Teacher of the Year
Mrs. Misty Keaton
Mrs. Misty Keaton is a first grade teacher at Kinchafoonee Primary School in Leesburg, Georgia. She has loved school since her very first day of kindergarten. Mrs. Keaton was raised in a small Texas town very similar to Lee County where the values of faith, family, friendship and football held the highest regard. Her parents emphasize the importance of education which inspired Mrs. Keaton to become the first in her family to attend college. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in elementary education and a Masters of Education in curriculum and instruction from Southwestern Assemblies of God University in Waxahachie, Texas, and later completed her Educational Specialist degree in early childhood education from the University of West Georgia. Mrs. Keaton considers herself to be a life-long learner adding additional endorsements to her credentials including Gifted/Talented, English Speakers of Other Languages and most recently Dyslexia Education.
Mrs. Keaton married her college sweetheart, Brandon, on August 6, 1994 and began her teaching career the following week. Together, they are the proud parents of three beautiful daughters, Emma, Elizabeth and Madeline, all of whom are distinguished honor graduates of Lee County High School. The Keatons relocated to Lee County, so that Mr. Keaton could start his tenure at First Methodist Church of Albany where he currently serves as the Director of Music and Student Ministries. The family enjoys spending time together traveling to far away places, eating Mexican cuisine at their favorite restaurant, and sharing dinner together as a family each evening - a tradition established by Mrs. Keaton’s parents.
Throughout Mrs. Keaton’s 31 years of teaching, she has been privileged to teach in 3 states, 4 school systems, and 6 schools. She loves teaching primary-aged students because they are excited to learn. Her philosophy of teaching is to engage students in building knowledge by active participation. Students construct their own learning through fun, immersive real-world experiences. Mrs. Keaton shares her interests, travels and hobbies with her young students in the hope that they will be inspired to develop their own passions in life. Mrs. Keaton strives to create a family within her classroom each year by encouraging her students to be kind, work hard, help others and have fun. She credits the loving community at Kinchafoonee Primary School for challenging her to be the best she can be each and every day.