Tennessee Announces 2016-17 Teacher of the Year Finalists
NASHVILLE—The Tennessee Department of Education is proud to announce the finalists for the 2016-17 Tennessee Teacher of the Year award. The nine finalists represent each CORE region in the state, with three finalists in each Grand Division (West, Middle, and East). Grand Division winners and the Teacher of the Year will be selected from this group and announced this fall, following a panel interview with each finalist.
"Teachers have the single biggest impact on our students," Education Commissioner Candice McQueen said. “It is an honor to recognize some of the state’s brightest educators.”
These finalists will have the opportunity to join the commissioner’s Teacher Advisory Council. Members of this body will offer insight, feedback, and advice on issues that impact teachers and students across the state.
“As I’ve traveled around Tennessee, visiting teachers on my Classroom Chronicles tour, I’ve gotten some of my most valuable feedback from educators,” Commissioner McQueen said. “Teachers live out our policies every day, and it is critical that we always remember the impact our decisions have on the classroom. The Teacher Advisory Council is an incredibly important group, bringing diverse perspectives to our work.”
The nine finalists for 2016-17 Teacher of the Year are:
West Tennessee
| CORE Region | Teacher | School | District |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shelby/Municipals | Mark Gray | Collierville Middle | Collierville Schools |
| Southwest | Christy McManus | Chester County Middle | Chester County Schools |
| Northwest | Callie Hodge | Medina Middle | Gibson County Special Schools |
Middle Tennessee
| CORE Region | Teacher | School | District |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mid Cumberland | Sandy Irwin | Bellevue Middle Prep | Metro Nashville Public Schools |
| South Central | Corderyl Martin | Whitthorne Middle | Maury County Schools |
| Upper Cumberland | Laurie Glover | Gordonsville Elementary | Smith County Schools |
East Tennessee
| CORE Region | Teacher | School | District |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southeast | Siema Swartzel | Arnold Memorial Elementary | Cleveland City Schools |
| East Tennessee | Leslie Wilson Vines | Jefferson Elementary | Jefferson County Schools |
| First Tennessee | Derek Voiles | Lincoln Heights Middle | Hamblen County Schools |
The final winner will represent Tennessee in the National Teacher of the Year competition and is an ambassador for education throughout the year. To qualify, candidates must have been teaching full-time for at least five years, have a proven record of using creative, research-based teaching strategies resulting in measurable achievement, and be effective school and community leaders. A panel of current educators from across the state scored applications to identify these finalists.
For more information, contact Ashley Ball at (615) 532-6260 or Ashley.M.Ball@tn.gov.