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TEACHER OF THE YEAR NOMINEES
Elementary School Nominees
Julie Williamson, A. L. Lotts
AResa Byrd. A. L. Lotts
Jennifer Miller, A. L. Lotts
Melanie Hone. Ball Camp
Rebecca Russell, Blue Grass
Suzanne Darden, Carter
Mary Lou Dillon.Cedar Bluff
Julie Lewis, Cedar Bluff
Madeline Elder, Chilhowee
Diana Burton, Christenberry
Linda Jarnigan, Christenberry
David Leonard, Copper Ridge
Melissa Warden, Corryton
Lisa Walker, Dogwood
Brenda Norris, Dogwood
Kimberly Chandler, Farragut Primary
Robin Wells, Farragut Primary
Bobi King, Farragut Int.
Wendy Goodrich, Farragut Int.
Hope Salocks, Farragut Int.
Yolanda Byas-Robinson, Fountain City
Mary Faith Enyart, Gap Creek
Faye King, Hardin Valley
Lois Sparks, Hardin Valley
Shelley Weiss, Hardin Valley
David Waldrupe, Inskip
Diane Eubanks, Karns
Gary Grimac, Karns
Patty Knight, Karns
Kim Williams, Karns
Karla Banks, Mooreland Heights
Amy Brantley, Mount Olive
Evelyn Woliver, New Hopewell
Judy McMahan, Norwood
Kim Dodson, Pleasant Ridge
Wanda Jones, Pond Gap
Lisa Taylor, Ritta
Paula Holland, Sam E. Hill
Samantha Bolton, Sara Moore Greene
Erin Doran, Sarah Moore Greene
Melissa Brown, Sequoyah
Kathy Smith, Shannondale
Carla Countiss, South Knox
Harriet Wilson, Sterchi
Mary Wichelt, Sunnyview
Amy Michelle Jones, West Haven
Cathy Upton, West Hills
Kathryn Allen, West Hills
Lora Nanny, West
Middle School Nominees:
Suzanne A. Darden, Carter Elem.
David E. Leonard, Copper Ridge
Wendy L. Goodrich, Farragut Interm
Faye King, Hardin Valley El.
Gary Grimac , Karns Elem.
Melissa Ann Brown, Sequoyah Elem.
Andrea Radel Blackburn, Bearden Middle
Lauren (Lolly) Ordonez, Bearden Middle
Trever Stowell, Bearden Middle
Daniel Fleeman, Bearden Middle
Karen Arnwine, Carter Middle Amber Schipp, Cedar Bluff Middle
Emily Gaude, Gresham Middle
Sonya Williams, Gresham Middle
Richard Lee, Halls Middle
Jeannine P. Griffin, Holston Middle
Joy W. Blankenship, Holston Middle
Nita M. Harrison, Karns Middle
Daniel Champion, Karns Middle
Tina Shelton, Northwest Middle
Jan J. Chiles, Northwest Middle
Don Grogan, Northwest Middle
Susan Loveday, Powell Middle
Donna Lewis, Powell Middle
Paula Hancock, Vine Middle
Shirley J. Walker, Vine Middle
Amy Lynn Crawford, West Valley Middle
Sherry Storms, West Valley Middle
Anthony Hussey, West Valley Middle
Edward Moore, Green MagnetBetty Jo Hamilton, Whittle Springs Middle
Robin Morton, Whittle Springs Middle
High School Nominees
Tammy Smith, Bearden High
Tonya Jenkins-Henke, Bearden High
Ernie Roberts, Bearden High
Flowerree Galetovic, Bearden High
Terry Uselton, Carter High
Scott Bray, Carter High
Tanya Bunch, Carter High
Leslie Howe,Farragut High
Jane Skinner, Farragut High
Lyn Powell, Farragut High
Marilyn Carico, Farragut High
Melissa Glover, Farragut High
Pamela Earl, Gibbs High
Liz Honeycutt, Gibbs High
Linda Nordmor, Gibbs High
H.C. Sumter, Halls High
Trina Polston, Halls High
David Combs, Hardin Valley Academy
Terri Griffith-Gilbert, Karns High
Rachel Kirkpatrick, Powell High
Julie Hopson Golden, Powell High
Paul Klein, Powell High
Robby Howard, South Doyle High
Bill Woodcock, South Doyle High
David Claxton, South Doyle High
Rebecca Merkord, South Doyle High
Shannon Jackson, West High
Mari Brooks, West High
Carolyn Lawhorn, West High
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Flowerree Galetovic, Art Instructor at Bearden High School, Amy Crawford, Reading teacher at West Valley Middle School, and Resa Byrd, 4th grade teacher at A. L.Lotts Elementary are Knox County School's "Teachers of the Year" for the 2008-09 school year.
The teachers were nominated by their colleagues for this annual award. Their portfolios were sent to the East Tennessee Region of the State Department of Education where all were winners and have advanced to the State level consideration for Teacher of the Year. An East Tennessee regional SDE official could not recall any time in the past that all regional winners were from the same school system. Ms. Byrd was named the Grand Division winner for East Tennessee.
This year's candidates scores were very close. Here are the runnersup in each category:
Grades Pre K-4:
1st Runner-up – Julie Lewis, Cedar Bluff Elementary
2nd Runners-up – Melanie Stone, Ball Camp Elementary
3rd Runner-up – Paula Holland, Sam E. Hill Family Community Center
4th Runner-up – Lisa Taylor, Ritta Elementary
Grades 5-8:
1st Runner-up – Emily Gaude, Gresham Middle
2nd Runner-up – Sherry Storms, West Valley Middle
3rd Runner-up – Susan Loveday, Powell Middle
4th Runners-up – Tina Shelton, Northwest Middle
Grades 9 –12
1st Runner-up - Shannon Jackson, West High
2nd Runner-up – Terri Griffith-Gilbert, Karns High
3rd Runner-up – Tanya Bunch, Carter High
4th Runner-up – David Combs, Hardin Valley Academy
Resa Byrd, A. L. Lotts Elementary
East Tennessee Teacher of the Year
(Read Ms. Byrd's Philosophy of Education)
Ms. Byrd is a fourth grade teacher at A.L. Lotts Elementary School. She has been at Lotts for three years and in Knox County schools for the last 10 years. Ms. Byrd earned her Associate of Arts Degree from Alabama Christian College and her BS Degree in Secondary Education from Tennessee Wesleyan College followed by Post graduate work for her Elementary Certification at the University of Tennessee. She began her teaching career at North City School in Athens, Tennessee. After six years she started teaching math at Lee High School in Montgomery, Alabama for one year. Starting in 1998 she moved to Cedar Bluff Intermediate in the Knox County School System where she taught fourth and fifth grade. In 2006 she was hired at A.L. Lotts Elementary in Knox County to teach fourth grade. She also is a leader in her school by currently serving as the fourth grade chair and previously as chair and co-chair of the Tennessee School Improvement Planning Committee at A.L. Lotts and Cedar Bluff Intermediate schools. Ms Byrd also leads in her community and church, serving as a volunteer coach for the Lads to Leaders and Leaderettes character and leadership development program as well as numerous medical mission trips to Central America.
Ms. Byrd says, “Teaching is a wonderful career. It is a privilege and a calling and it’s also hard work and you need to be ready and willing to give to people more than you could have ever dreamed, but it is one of the most rewarding things you could ever choose to be.
"As a teacher I take joy in encouraging my students to contribute to their community. My classes are known for efforts such as delivering plates of goodies to the staff members of our school each Thanksgiving and for writing letters of encouragement to the homeless children at Knox Rescue Mission” said Byrd.
Amy Crawford West Valley Middle School
(Read Ms. Crawford's Philosophy of Education)
Ms. Crawford is an eighth grade reading teacher at West Valley Middle School. She is a veteran of 15 years teaching in several Knox County schools serving at Mount Olive, Ritta and A.L. Lotts Elementary schools before accepting her current position at West Valley Middle School in 2003. Ms. Crawford holds a Bachelor of Science degree in education from Carson-Newman College and has completed a number of hours of post graduate work at both Carson-Newman and the University of Tennessee. She has served as the reading department chair at West Valley for three years and she is also the founder and president of Reach Them to Teach Them, a non-profit corporation founded in 2006 to help ensure that every child has the opportunity to reach his or her maximum potential.
“I believe teaching is my calling, because my desire to teach came from a power far greater than myself. Teaching is so much more than what I do; it is who I am”, she explains. She traces her love for education through other family members as well. “The draw to the classroom has been a powerful force in my family. My grandmother taught in Knox County for 39 years. My grandfather served as an administrator and teacher, and my father taught history for a few years before I was born. Even my two daughters have decided to pursue careers in education. “
Crawford reflects on what it means to be chosen for the Middle School Teacher of the Year by saying, “Being chosen Knox County’s Teacher of the Year is a tremendous honor for me. There are countless numbers of teachers in classrooms all across the county who pour themselves into the lives of their students everyday. This award should be shared among all the people who have helped mold me into the person I am today.”
Flowerree Galetovic, Bearden High School
(Read Ms. Galetovic's Philosophy of Education)
Ms. Galetovic teaches art for all grade levels at Bearden High School. She has been teaching for 28 years with a broad range of experience in the arts. She holds a Bachelor and Master of Science degree in Art education from the University of Tennessee. In addition to her work at Bearden High school, Ms. Galetovic also serves as a coordinator and teacher for the Knox County Fine Arts Academy and is a member of the Board of Examiners for the Tennessee Department of Education. She has received numerous awards and professional recognition over her career. She is active in the community serving as a board member and volunteer for the Safe Place Runaway Shelter operated by Child and Family Services, and as a member of the Knoxville Museum of Art Education Advisory Council.
Ms. Galetovic stated, “The most important attribute of any good teacher is that s/he is passionate about the students and the subject s/he is teaching. If a teacher truly loves the students, all of them, the students recognize the true quality for caring and perform even when otherwise they might be reluctant to do so. What a dynamic profession when one can be excited everyday to see what new idea the students have facing them. If a teacher does not love and continually investigate the subject through classes and practice, s/he stagnates. I am such a fortunate person to have a profession I love and students I treasure.”
The winners’ portfolios will be sent to the East Tennessee Region of the State Department of Education for further competition and possible advancement to the state level. Six teachers from around the state will be named Tennessee Teachers of the Year. One of them will advance to the national competition.
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