08/27/2026
Our very own...
🌟 TEACHER OF THE YEAR SPOTLIGHT 🌟
Our 2026-2027 Teacher of the Year Spotlight Series continues with Ms. Jessica Lynn Bigham, Porterdale Elementary School’s Teacher of the Year! 🍎
Ms. Bigham has spent all four years of her Newton County Schools career at Porterdale Elementary, where she teaches third grade and works to help students see themselves as confident and capable learners.
For Ms. Bigham, the inspiration to become an educator came from the opportunity to make a lasting difference in how children view themselves and their abilities.
💬 “I became a teacher because I believe education can change the way children understand their own possibilities.”
One of the things Ms. Bigham loves most about teaching is watching students accomplish something they once thought was impossible. Whether it’s finally understanding a difficult concept, taking a risk without being afraid to make a mistake, or realizing they can complete a task more independently, those moments of growth are what make teaching so rewarding.
Above all, Ms. Bigham hopes every student leaves her classroom believing they are capable of doing hard things. She wants them to be more confident, more independent, and more willing to keep trying when something is difficult—lessons she knows will matter long after they leave third grade. ❤️
And here’s a fun fact: Ms. Bigham is a VERY proud dog mom! 🐶 She has four rescue dogs at home—Harley Eyebrows P***y Brewster Bigham, Sassafrass Bigham, Abel Bigham, and Pig. With names like those, we’re pretty sure there are some great stories behind them!
Outside of the classroom, Ms. Bigham enjoys spending time with her family and dogs, cooking, traveling, tackling home projects, and finding creative ways to make everyday life a little more fun.
Congratulations, Ms. Bigham! We are proud to celebrate you as Porterdale Elementary School’s 2026-2027 Teacher of the Year!
🏆 Who will be Newton County Schools’ NEXT Teacher of the Year? Stay tuned as we continue highlighting our outstanding school-level honorees on the road to our district celebration on September 23!
