Meet Brandi Lawrence: Midway Hills Primary’s Teacher of the Year

At Midway Hills Primary, Brandi Lawrence is known for her calm presence, big heart, and of course, snacks! “That’s how you know it’s a good day," she laughs, "when everyone’s safe, everyone’s learning, and everyone’s got a full belly!"

Lawrence teaches special education, serving kindergarten through second grade students. “We follow each student’s IEP (Individualized Education Plan) to help them succeed,” she explains. “It’s about seeing the potential in every child and giving them the tools and love they need to thrive.”

A Calling That Found Her

Brandi Lawrence was influenced by her aunt, Louis Austin, who raised her following the untimely passing of her mother, and who was also a Special Education teacher.

Lawrence’s path to teaching wasn’t a straight line. It was more of a heart-led detour.

“I actually started out in nursing,” she says. “I’ve always loved caring for people.” But her aunt, who raised her after her mother passed away, was a special education teacher and saw something different in her. “She used to tell me, ‘You need to be a teacher. That’s where you belong.’”

When her aunt became ill with pancreatic cancer, she made one final request: take the teacher certification test (GACE). “I did it for her,” Lawrence recalls. “I passed on the first try. Unfortunately, she passed away before I could tell her. From that moment, I gave up nursing and started teaching.”

Finding Home at Midway Hills

After earning her degree from Albany State University and teaching in Dougherty County for two years, Lawrence followed her husband back to Baldwin where, she says, everything clicked.

“It’s the environment here,” she says. “We’re like a family. The administration treats you like family. They care about you as a person and help you grow as a professional. You just feel at home here.”

From Sixth Grade to Kindergarten and Loving It

Lawrence laughs remembering her early days. “When I moved from sixth grade to kindergarten, I thought, ‘Oh my goodness, I have to wipe noses!’” she says. “But I fell in love with it. It was like taking care of my own kids.”

Now, she sees teaching as both a professional and deeply personal commitment. “I send my own children to Baldwin County Schools,” she says. “I expect their teachers to take care of them the same way I take care of my students.”

Humble Heart, Big Impact

When asked what made her stand out for Teacher of the Year, Lawrence smiles and shakes her head.

“I’m not the type of person who has to be recognized,” she says. “I just think it was my turn this year. We have a whole school full of Teachers of the Year. We’re a team, and we all work together.”

A Good Day in Mrs. Lawrence's Room

A “good day,” Lawrence says, is simple. “When all my kids are here, that’s a good day. Attendance matters. We make sure they eat, they’re safe, and that somebody learned something that day.”

That kind of grounded joy is part of what makes her classroom feel like a second home for her students—and her colleagues too.

Family at the Heart of It All

When the school day ends, Lawrence’s world revolves around her family. Her husband is a firefighter with Baldwin County Fire Rescue, and her two sons, Clyde (8) and Greyson (5), are Baldwin students themselves. “Teaching takes a lot,” she admits. “But we make time for each other. It’s just us. Always us.”

Looking Ahead

Lawrence is currently working toward her specialist degree at Thomas University, aiming to graduate in summer 2026. “I’m excited to keep growing,” she says. “That’s what I tell my students: you never stop learning.”

With her compassion, dedication, and sense of humor, Brandi Lawrence embodies everything that makes Midway Hills Primary special: family, faith in children, and a love that reaches far beyond the classroom.