Educator, Glynn Academy
Class of ’88,’91 | Board Position: Member
With 28 years of dedicated service in education, Gena Churchwell brings a wealth of experience, passion, and heart to the classroom. As a proud member of a military family, Gena has had the unique opportunity to teach across a diverse range of schools and locations both in the United States and overseas. Her professional journey spans multiple roles, including eight years as an elementary special education teacher, three years as a middle school guidance counselor, and the remainder as a high school transition/access teacher — the last 14 of which have been at Glynn Academy.
Gena holds a Bachelor’s degree in Exceptional Child Education from Georgia Southern College, a Master’s in School Guidance and Counseling from Georgia Southern University, and an addendum in School Leadership from Auburn University at Montgomery. She has served on 11 different campuses, supporting students from kindergarten through high school.
At the heart of Gena’s teaching philosophy is the belief that all students can learn if we set the stage properly. She is passionate about meeting students where they are, focusing not just on academics, but also on their social, emotional, and physical well-being. She understands that true learning often begins with ensuring basic needs are met — a clean shirt, a full stomach, or simply knowing someone cares. Gena lives by the military family motto: Grow where you are planted. It’s a principle she’s applied in each of the 16 places her family has called home — and one she instills in the students she serves every day.