Georgia 2026 Teacher of the Year Rachel Kinsaul is planning to lead a statewide Day of Service for students on March 18.
The Morgan County High School agricultural science teacher is encouraging schools and districts across the state to participate in the initiative.
According to a recent press release from the Georgia Department of Education, the purpose of the Day of Service is to “engage students in community connection, real-world learning, and civic responsibility.” State schools are encouraged to participate in the March 18 event, or organize a day of service on their own, “that best meets the needs of the local community.”
“I believe that when thoughtful, committed students come together, they have the power to make a real change,” Kinsaul said. “When they connect their learning to the needs of their community, their impact can be incredible.”
The schools participating in the day of service are encouraged to begin by identifying community partners and nonprofit organizations within their communities, then matching specific grade levels and classes to the project deemed the “best fit.” The project examples include a variety of services, such as walking dogs at animal shelters, organizing donation drives, and playing games with nursing home residents.
Kinsaul first conceived the movement in 2019 after realizing that many Morgan County students lacked community service experience and needed opportunities to complete their FFA Degree Applications. Therefore, she created the Sophomores Serve program at Morgan County High School.
“I knew our students needed opportunities to connect — not just with each other, but with the community around them,” Kinsaul said. “Many of these projects can be embedded into the curriculum, so students see that the skills they’re learning in class can be put into practice.”
MCSS Superintendent Dr. Susan Stancil credited Kinsaul for her efforts to make the statewide Day of Service possible and her leadership as an educator.
“Rachel Kinsaul exemplifies what it means to lead with purpose; her Day of Service initiative shows how powerful learning can be when students are given the opportunity to apply their knowledge beyond the classroom,” Stancil said. “We are incredibly proud to see a Morgan County educator leading an effort that inspires service, leadership, and civic responsibility across the entire state.”
Georgia School Superintendent Richard Woods also praised Kinsaul for implementing the Day of Service, noting the event’s importance on a statewide level. He describes her movement to highlight “how learning extends beyond the classroom.”
“By engaging students in purposeful service, this initiative helps schools strengthen local partnerships while giving students meaningful opportunities to contribute, reflect, and take ownership of their learning,” Woods said. “When students are given opportunities to serve their communities, learning takes on deeper meaning, and students grow as learners, leaders, and citizens.”
Kinsaul has organized the local Day of Service event annually over the past five years. In that time frame, the event has averaged 260 sophomores, and she has worked with local nonprofit organizations to “secure service sites throughout the community.”
“This day of service sends a clear message that our school values the work being done by so many people and organizations in our community,” Kinsaul said. “We truly see ourselves as ‘One Morgan.’”