AUGUSTA, Ga. () – A culinary arts teacher at Butler High School was named Richmond County School System’s 2026 Teacher of the Year.

Chef Kanesha Roberts was awarded the title at the annual Teacher of the Year Banquet at the Augusta Marriot Convention Center on Sept. 18, 2025.

Back in August, Roberts was among the six finalists named RCSS’s 2026 Teacher of the Year.

Roberts boasts a decade of teaching experience, having spent four of those years at Butler High School. Before embarking on her teaching career, she served as a U.S. Army sergeant and culinary specialist. At Butler, she fulfills roles as a senior advisor, prom co-director, and homecoming coordinator. Roberts possesses an Associate of Applied Science degree in culinary arts from Le Cordon Bleu.

“I want my students to leave my class understanding that, despite any hardships, we’re going to face struggles in life,” Roberts expressed in a spotlight video from RCSS. “Every day brings challenges, but I want my students to know that as long as they remain stronger than these struggles, they can achieve anything in their life.”

When recommending Kanesha Roberts for the RCSS Teacher of the Year, Butler Varsity Boys Basketball Coach Chaz Clark remarked, “I believe she exemplifies recognizing the child as a whole and embracing the entirety of the job.”

Roberts said that choosing to become a teacher is the best decision of her entire life.

“There’s a saying, although I can’t recall who said it, ‘Students don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care,'” Roberts stated. “I embody this belief every day as a teacher.”

On Facebook, the school system expressed their gratitude to Chef Roberts, appreciating her, “dedication, passion, and commitment to inspiring excellence in our students every day.”