Cedar alum earns Georgia Council for the Social Studies award
Jasmine Curry vividly remembers when she started working at the Boys and Girls Club in 2020, especially tutoring students with their social studies work.
“I was explaining and analyzing the sixth grade content so clearly that one of my students, my cousin Nakeyshia Butts, said, ‘Miss Jasmine, I wish you were my social studies teacher because I actually understand everything you’re saying’,” Curry said.
Since Curry already had a minor in social studies from Savannah State University, she felt like it was a good fit for her to give education a try.
“Honestly, teaching was never on my bingo card and I always said I would never teach middle school but I truly believe that was God’s way of guiding me toward my purpose. Now, I can’t imagine doing anything else,” Curry said.
Curry’s passion for social studies began in 10th grade at Cedar Shoals High School with her U.S. history teacher, Aaron Carter, who was also Cedar’s Student Government Association (SGA) advisor during Curry’s 10th grade year.
Her passion continued even after graduating from Cedar Shoals while at Savannah State University when she took Survey of the African American 1501 with professor Jamal Torre.
“That class changed everything for me. He taught history in a way that was informative, thought-provoking and deeply connected to real-life experiences. It was in that classroom that I realized history isn’t just about the past, it’s about understanding who we are and how we move forward. That inspired me to minor in history and shaped the way I teach today: making learning meaningful, relevant, and empowering for my students,” Curry said.
Moreover, Curry’s 11th grade math teacher Nastasha Jordan was one of her inspirations and helped Curry graduate from college.
“Being a Cedar Shoals alum has shaped not only my teaching career but my entire adult life. I saw myself in educators like Dr. Jordan, Aisha Willis, Cheryl Hudson and so many others at Cedar Shoals who poured into me and made me believe I could achieve anything I set my mind to,” Curry said.
Curry is now in her fourth year with the Clarke County School District and back in her former middle school Coile Middle School, where she started as a paraprofessional and now teaches eighth grade social studies.
“Now, as a teacher at my old middle school sending students to my old high school, I feel a deep sense of responsibility. I want to make sure I’m preparing them to be the best versions of themselves so that when they walk through the doors of Cedar Shoals, they feel that same pride and confidence I once did,” Curry said.
At Coile, she serves as the student council advisor, National History Day advisor, Girls with Goals mentor, member of the PBIS Team and was the faculty sponsor for the school yearbook last year.
During the 2025-26 school year, Curry was nominated for the June Bryant Teacher of Promise by the Georgia Council for the Social Studies (GCSS), an award which recognizes beginning K-12 social studies teachers in their second, third, or fourth year and who show exceptional promise in their work. She was nominated by CCSD K-12 Social Studies Content Coordinator Ben Smalley and Coile’s instructional coach Dr. Erica Gaines.
When Curry was completing the application for the June Cryant award, one of the main components was gathering student letters. She was flooded with messages from her former students, including current ninth graders, her eighth graders and even students she had recently met.
“Reading those letters especially from my former students who no longer have me but still took the time to express the impact I made in their lives was deeply emotional. It confirmed that nothing else matters but the kids I serve. Period,” Curry said.
Curry was presented with the award on Oct. 23 during the GCSS 2025 Annual Conference in Athens. Additionally, Curry was also named Teacher of the Year at Coile for the 2025-26 school year.
“Earning the June Bryant Teacher of Promise Award is truly an honor. I was not expecting it at all, and it still feels surreal. Honestly, my students are the true reason behind it all, there is no ‘me’ without them,” Curry said. “To also be named Teacher of the Year at my school just four years into teaching, makes this moment even more special. Winning that honor in my very first year of eligibility reminded me that when you lead with passion and purpose, everything else falls into place.”
