A seventh grade math teacher at DeKalb Middle School was named ” DeKalb County Teacher of the Year” and received the “John Isabell Memorial Award” Tuesday night during the ninth annual Teacher of the Year banquet at the Elizabeth Chapel Baptist Church.
The award and a check for $150 was presented to Lesa Hayes by Roy Nelson Pugh of Liberty State Bank, a sponsor of the banquet, along with Director of Schools Patrick Cripps and Lori Isabell, whose husband John for whom the award is named, passed away in 2014. John Isabell was a long time educator and former President of the DeKalb County Education Association
“This is only her second year at the Middle School but really quickly after she got to the Middle School she became a leader in our building. We use her in a lot of different ways. We send teachers to her classroom. We ask her to go to other teachers classrooms to coach and do other things because she has so many strengths. She has such high expectations for her students and her classroom and she demands it out of them every day. Its an honor to have her as our teacher of the year at DeKalb Middle School,” said DMS Principal Randy Jennings.
Hayes, who is in her 17th year as a teacher, was among five local educators who were recognized during the banquet for being chosen by peers as “Teacher of the Year” at their schools. The others were Leah Magness from Smithville Elementary School; Alisha Day from Northside Elementary School; Cynthia Pulley from DeKalb West School; and Amanda Fuller from DeKalb County High School.
Magness is a first grade teacher in all subjects. She is in her 9th year as a teacher. Day teaches reading, language arts, and social studies in the fifth grade. She is in her 14th year. Pulley is in her 8th year. She teaches all subjects in the fourth grade. Fuller is an eleventh grade chemistry and biology teacher. This is her 20th year in the classroom.
The Tennessee Teacher of the Year Program is designed to promote recognition, respect and appreciation for teachers; to stimulate interest in teaching as a career; and to encourage public involvement in education.
Administrators introduced the Teachers of the Year at their schools, remarked on how they deserved the honor, and presented them with a school bell award.
Seventh district school board member Shaun Tubbs served as guest speaker for the banquet.
“You play such an important role in each and every student’s lives. You wear many hats. You are a teacher, mentor, friend, and role model to so many kids. To be great educators like yourselves you must have a passion for what you do. You did not choose this job for money but because you had a gift and a passion to teach others. You give hope and encouragement to so many students and you are the backbone of our community. Your influence helps build a future DeKalb County. Sometimes you don’t get the praise or a thank you often enough. On behalf of the DeKalb County School Board I want to say congratulations and thank you for a job well done,” said Tubbs in his remarks.
Other school board members attending were Chairman W.J. (Dub) Evins, III, Danny Parkerson, and Jerry Wayne Johnson.
Archived News & Obituaries