08/12/2026
🍎 Celebrating our 2026-2027 Teachers of the Year ✨
Yeager Middle School Teacher of the Year Nicole Kempson believes that education is about much more than the repetition of facts.
“It is about fostering lifelong learners and helping students make meaningful connections to the world around them,” she said. “My goal is to inspire students to think critically and motivate them to be even better than they were the day before. There is nothing more rewarding than seeing a student believe in themselves and strive for greatness because they feel a genuine connection to their learning.”
Kempson currently teaches seventh- and eighth-grade science. She grew up in Atlanta as the oldest of six children, which shaped her passion for leadership and education from a young age.
She earned an associate’s degree in secondary education from Atlanta Metropolitan College and continued her education at Kennesaw State University, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in middle grades education, her master’s degree in instructional technology and her specialist degree in curriculum and instruction.
She also completed the Media Center Specialist program at the University of West Georgia and holds certifications in Gifted Education, ESOL and Online Teaching.
Before coming to Douglas County, Kempson was a parent, substitute teacher and educator for more than a decade in Cobb County. She taught sixth-grade earth science at Lindley 6th Grade Academy for seven years and was named the Cobb County School District Teacher of the Year in 2017–2018.
Throughout her career, she has embraced leadership roles, including graduating from the CCSD Leadership Academy, serving as a school webmaster, and founding two campus dance clubs. She also had the wonderful opportunity to work as an Instructional Technology Coach for Kennesaw State University, where she partnered with fellow educators to co-plan, co-teach, and implement innovative technology in the classroom.
When she’s not in the classroom, Kempson loves to stay active and curious by playing trivia, skating, challenging herself in escape rooms, and traveling to new places.
