Rooted in Service: From 4-H’er to Georgia Teacher of the Year

When Rachel Kinsaul walks into a classroom, she carries more than lesson plans and work books.

She brings a lifetime shaped by caring adults, community service, and a love for agriculture first nurtured through 4-H.

Now serving as Georgia’s 2026 Teacher of the Year, Rachel often looks back on her days as a 4-H’er in Greene County, where her spark for agriculture first began to grow.

“I started in 4-H around fourth grade,” she recalled. “My favorite thing every summer was our Greene County Horse Camp. We would bring our horses, stay for the week, and learn from all these amazing people who volunteered their time. Looking back, I realize how much those adults poured into us and how they worked to give us chances to discover what we loved.”

Rachel credits those early experiences and the mentors behind them with shaping her approach to teaching today. “I had incredible agents, Peyton Sapp and Sherley Selman,” she said. “They gave me so many opportunities, even when I did not realize how valuable they were at the time.”

Those 4-H mentors modeled what developmental relationships look like in action. They cared for her, challenged her, provided support for her to lead, and expanded her view of what was possible. “That is the same kind of relationship I try to build with my students now,” Rachel said. “When young people know they are cared for and capable, it changes everything.”

Her sense of opportunity and belonging carried into her teaching career. After discovering agricultural education during college, Rachel began a journey that would lead her to become an advocate not just for her students but for teachers across the state.

“I feel like I’ve been preparing for this role my whole life without even realizing it,” Rachel said. For nearly a decade, Kinsaul has served as the agricultural education teacher at Morgan County High School. She is the first-ever Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE) teacher to be named Georgia Teacher of the Year.

Throughout her career, she has turned innovative ideas into opportunities for students to learn by doing. She developed a community-funded Floral Design course to diversify student participation in agriculture, which has grown into a thriving student-leadership program. As an FFA Advisor, she has guided students to uncover their passions, develop leadership skills, and earn state and national awards. She also led the fundraising effort for the Morgan Agricultural Learning Lab, a one-million-dollar project that expands access to livestock programs.

As Georgia Teacher of the Year, Rachel serves on the State Board of Education and travels across the state speaking to educators and students. Her role allows her to advocate for teachers and champion innovative, community-connected learning.

Rachel is currently leading efforts to launch a statewide “Day of Service” for Georgia’s public schools, encouraging teachers and students to engage their local communities.

Her platform, titled “Rooted in Service: Connecting Classrooms to Communities,” reflects the lessons she learned in 4-H. “Service is not just about projects; it is about meeting real needs where you are. That is what I want my students to see, that learning and service go hand in hand.”

Her impact in education has resulted in widespread recognition, including the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Outstanding Alumni Award and the Milken Educator Award, often referred to as the “Oscar of Teaching.” Rachel is quick to point back to her roots and the people who helped her grow. “In 4-H, I found my spark for agriculture through horses and through the adults who recognized my passion,” she says.

Her advice to today’s 4-H’ers is simple: “Try all the things. When you find what you love, you will realize how many people helped you get there.”