The DeKalb County School System has announced that three educators, Julie Vincent, Michael Lewis, and Chris Vance have been selected “Teachers of the Year” locally and will compete for regional honors in the Tennessee Teacher of the Year Program.
Michelle Burklow, Supervisor of Instruction for grades K-6 made the announcement Wednesday. “Again this year, we’re going to participate in the Teacher of the Year program, which begins on the school level, moves to the system level, the regional level, and finally to the state level. This year a committee selected the Teachers of the Year at the system wide level.”
“In pre-kindergarten through fourth grade, Teachers of the year are Julie Vincent from Northside Elementary and Beth Pafford from Smithville Elementary. Ms. Vincent was chosen on the system wide level and will represent DeKalb County at the regional level.”
“In grades 5 through 8, Teachers of the year are Mike Lewis from DeKalb Middle School and Vicki Wilson from DeKalb West School. Mr. Lewis will represent DeKalb County at the regional level.”
“In the 9th through 12th grade, which is DeKalb County High School, Chris Vance is the Teacher of the Year and he will represent DeKalb County at the regional competition.
Should these teachers win at the regional, they will represent DeKalb County at the state level in March.
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.
This program is sponsored annually by the Tennessee Department of Education and the Niswonger Foundation.
The Tennessee Teacher of the Year represents Tennessee at the National Teacher of the Year competition, which is sponsored by the Council of Chief State School Officers and Scholastic, Inc.
Teachers of the Year are selected competitively through five cycles: Building, System, Field Service Center Region, Grand Division and State; and from three categories (levels of teaching); Grades Pre K-4, 5-8, 9-12.
Teachers selected at each cycle receive local recognition and awards underwritten by local sources. State recognition/awards include a banquet honoring the nine State Teacher of the Year finalists and certificates of appreciation from the Governor. In addition, the State Finalists and the State Teacher of the Year receive cash awards from the Niswonger Foundation.
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