.png)
Before starting a teaching career at Apalachee High School (AHS), Amanda Pugh spent several years working in the Law and Public Safety field. She spent nine years serving as a legal assistant for a Defense Attorney. Afterward, she spent three years as a Georgia Department of Corrections Probation Officer.
Pugh joined the Chee Team in 2005 and began teaching Law and Public Safety. Since then, Pugh has received many accolades including most recently the 2024 Lillian B. Jarvis Teacher of the Year Award for The American Lawyers Alliance (ALA).
To qualify for the Lillian B. Jarvis Award, you must be a US High School teacher providing excellent law-related curriculum to students in Title I schools.
The award began in 2021. Pugh is the fourth educator to receive the Lillian B. Jarvis Award. She received the award during the 2024 ALA Annual Meeting in Chicago, Illinois. 
Other awards Pugh has earned includes 2024 SkillsUSA Georgia Advisor Award, the 2024 Trade and Industrial Education of Georgia (TIEGA) Teacher of the Year, Georgia Association for Career & Technical Education (GACTE) Teacher of the Year.
Pugh will represent the State of Georgia during the Region II Conference in October 2025. She was also made an Honorary Member of the American Lawyers Alliance.
"It has been a year of reflection and appreciation for me. This year made me realize how many teachers, program specialists, and administration have impacted me and influenced me along the way. I appreciate the support of my family, students, and my community."
The AHS SkillsUSA Chapter was created in 2007 by Pugh. She also advises the National Technical Honors Society (NTHS). For the 2023-24 school year, NTHS earned the Core Four for Recognition.
Pugh's drive for excellence derives from her passion for student success and her love for the law. Congratulations, Amanda Pugh!