Schools

Metro Nashville Teacher Of The Year Finalists Announced

Nine educators have received this honor.

Press Release Desk, News Partner

From the Metro Nashville Public Schools:

January 20, 2021

Celebrating Excellence: Teacher of the Year Finalists

Metro School celebrates nine Teacher of the Year Finalists and three Principal of the Year winners

Throughout the last 10 months, our teachers have risen up and adapted to many incredible challenges. Last week, teams from across the district virtually joined together to celebrate nine finalists for our Teacher of the Year program.

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Spirits were high – and a few happy tears were shed – as these nine teachers were honored. Teacher of the Year recipients believed they would be attending, and many prepared for, a meeting with their school colleagues only to be surprised by Director of Schools Dr. Adrienne Battle, their principals, their executive directors and other district leaders for a virtual celebration of their dedication to students.

For Molly Schaeffer, a Teacher of the Year finalist at Bellevue Middle School, one of her students was even in on the surprise.

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"That makes my heart really happy,” Schaeffer said. “I feel really honored.”

Dr. Battle, who spoke to each finalist, told Schaeffer: "I know your passion. I see and feel your heart. Thank you for lending your talent to your school.''

And Kaci Bolls Scott, a Teacher of the Year finalist from Lockeland Elementary School, was in the middle of teaching a lesson when her principal, Christie Conyers Lewis, briefly interrupted to surprise her with her honor.

After the surprise sank in, Bolls Scott pointed to her students, whose faces could be seen on her laptop, and said: “It is because of these guys.''

“Great teachers never recognize themselves, they only recognize their students,” said Dr. Chris Barnes, MNPS Chief of Human Resources. “Thank you for the privilege of letting us recognize you.”

"I can't wait to tell my mom," Bolls Scott added, telling the group that her mom was a career educator.

Dr. Battle left Colonel Martha Shaffer, a finalist from Maplewood High School, with a message of encouragement and support that applies to each Teacher of the Year finalist: “You’re doing the right thing, and you are the right person to be doing this work.”

To continue the celebration, Dr. Battle and her leadership team surprised our three Principals of the Year with short visits to their schools to deliver flowers and the news. Each of the principals was surprised, and each expressed that their students and amazing teams are the reason for all they do.

Shavon Davis-Louis, principal at John F. Kennedy Middle School, summed it up:

“It’s always been an honor to do the work, but it’s no greater feeling than to be able to do the work with amazing people that support you,’’ Davis-Louis said. “The leadership that I have been surrounded with…the teachers, the students, the parents - I could not do this without them - and they make it easy for me to shine bright because of all their hard work and dedication.”

About Teacher of the Year:

The Teacher of the Year program is a peer-nominated recognition program that all Metro Schools participate in. It is part of the state and national Teacher of the Year recognition program.

Download a list of this year’s school-level Teacher of the Year finalists. Teacher of the Year winners by tier will be named soon.

Teacher of the Year Finalists

Elementary School

Middle School

High School

Principals of the Year

This press release was produced by the Metro Nashville Public Schools. The views expressed are the author's own.

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