Ag News
Morgan County's Kinsaul honored for excellence in ag education
Posted on May 29, 2025 at 12:02 PM
Morgan County Farm Bureau President Rachel Kinsaul has been named the 2026 Georgia Teacher of the Year. State School Superintendent Richard Woods announced the selection at a banquet held May 30 at Lanier Islands to celebrate all District Teachers of the Year.
“Rachel Kinsaul opens up possibilities for her students every day – in agriculture and beyond,” Superintendent Woods said. “She is a standout example of the hands-on learning opportunities that Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education opens up and the life-changing power of an excellent teacher in the classroom. I know she will be an incredible advocate for public education in the state of Georgia and will shine a light on the rich opportunities our K-12 schools provide.”
As an agricultural educator, Rachel Kinsaul believes that preparing her students to be productive community members is her most important job. She focuses her efforts on pushing students to find the best versions of themselves by becoming community leaders through agricultural education.
Kinsaul is committed to providing project-based learning (PBL) opportunities for her students. She created a floral design class, through which her students have gained real-world experience by managing a monthly floral arrangement subscription program and providing arrangements for real weddings in the local community.
“Students work together to build a product,” Kinsaul wrote in her application for Georgia Teacher of the Year. “Students are learning the principles of design, color theory, and mechanics of flower arrangements, but they’re also learning how to be successful in a group. Students are challenged to work in different groups, learn about different classroom personalities, capitalize on each other’s strengths, and get the job done. In my classroom, we all work together to accomplish a common goal.”
She serves as the Morgan County High School National FFA Organization Chapter Advisor, training competitive teams and assisting members in developing student-led agricultural projects. Rachel and her husband, Jason, were named the 2019 Georgia Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Winners for Excellence in Agriculture and placed in the top ten nationally. She serves as the Morgan County Farm Bureau President and is a member of the Madison-Morgan Conservancy Board of Directors. Kinsaul and her husband, Jason, served on the Georgia Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee in 2020-2021.
Kinsaul holds a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture and a Master of Science in Agriculture from the University of Georgia and was recently named the 2025 College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences Outstanding Alumni. She is also a 2025 recipient of the Milken Educator Award, known as the Oscars of Education.
As Georgia Teacher of the Year, Kinsaul will serve as an advocate for public education in Georgia, speaking to the public about the teaching profession and serving as an ex-officio member of the State Board of Education. She will also participate in the competitive selection process for the 2026 National Teacher of the Year.
Earlier this spring, Kinsaul was one of multiple teachers nationwide selected as a 2024–25 Milken Educator Award recipient — an honor widely recognized as the nation’s preeminent award for K–12 teachers.
As Georgia’s sole recipient this year, Kinsaul joins a prestigious national network of more than 3,000 educators and receives an unrestricted $25,000 cash prize. She is the first-ever recipient from Morgan County Charter Schools and the 87th in Georgia since the state joined the Milken Educator Awards program in 1990.
Kinsaul earned her bachelor's degree in animal science in 2009, followed by a master's degree in agricultural leadership in 2011 from the University of Georgia’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES).
“CAES is incredibly proud of our alumni who continue to excel and make a difference in their communities. Rachel's receipt of the Milken Educator Award is a testament to her hard work, dedication and innovation as an educator,” said Laura Bayne, CAES director of alumni relations. “The achievements of alumni like Rachel inspire our current students and reinforce our commitment to fostering excellence in education and community service.”
Agricultural education gives students hands-on experience
Drawing on her own experience growing up on a beef cattle farm and competing in high school rodeo, Kinsaul has created authentic learning experiences that prepare her students for academic success as well as meaningful careers in agriculture.
“Rachel’s personal experience and professional expertise translate into dynamic, real-world instruction that deeply resonates with students,” said Stephanie Bishop, vice president of the Milken Educator Awards and a 2001 Milken Educator. “From tending livestock to designing floral arrangements and visiting local farms, her students are gaining the tools to become tomorrow’s agricultural leaders.”
At Morgan County High School, Kinsaul significantly expanded student engagement in agriculture, including the launch of a popular floral design course, which encouraged more girls to enroll in agriculture classes. Her “Floral Arrangement of the Month” subscription program, managed in partnership with the school’s special education department, raises funds while giving students hands-on entrepreneurial experience.
She also initiated the school’s Sophomore Service Day to connect students with community service opportunities and led a successful $501,059 fundraising effort to construct the Morgan County Agricultural Learning Lab — a state-of-the-art agriculture barn on campus where students raise livestock and deepen their agricultural knowledge through experiential livestock education. She also serves as the school’s FFA advisor, leading students to success in state and national competitions.
CAES education shaped her career
“Rachel Kinsaul is the definition of a dedicated educator — someone who goes above and beyond to provide real-world, hands-on learning experiences,” said Georgia State School Superintendent Richard Woods. “Her commitment to agricultural education and student leadership has a lasting impact not just in the classroom, but across the community and industry.”
Kinsaul also mentors student teachers and presents teaching strategies to educators across Georgia, contributing to the broader advancement of agricultural education in the state.
"My experience in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences is what expanded my passion for agriculture and pushed me to want to share that love with students,” Kinsaul said. “The hands-on classes and labs gave me the experience to tackle anything teaching agriculture has thrown at me. And serving as the chair of the Great Southland Stampede Rodeo taught me how to interact with sponsors, make connections and coordinate large events — all of the things I am asked to do on a daily basis.”
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