Tennessee Names 2010 Teacher of Year

NASHVILLE – McNairy County elementary school teacher Patty Kiddy was named Tennessee Teacher of the Year Thursday night during the Annual Teacher of the Year banquet. Barbara Hillis and Resa Byrd are the grand division winners from Middle and East Tennessee respectively.

“Teachers are the foundation for every student’s success,” Education Commissioner Timothy Webb said. “It’s a challenging profession and a job that requires great commitment. I want to congratulate Ms. Kiddy, Ms. Hillis and Ms. Byrd on being the best of what our profession has to offer.”

Ms. Kiddy has dedicated 35 years to teaching in Tennessee and teaches first grade at Selmer Elementary School in Selmer.  She was named Selmer Elementary Teacher of the Year in 2009 and Tennessee Education Association Teacher of the Year in 1991. She has been described by her peers as enthusiastic, hardworking and willing to try new and innovative methods in the classroom.

“Every year around this time we get the pause and show our gratitude to the great teachers that make learning possible in our classrooms,” said Dr. Connie Smith, Assistant Commissioner for Accountability, Teaching and Learning. “It is a great honor to recognize these hardworking professionals and it is a great honor to prepare our students for a successful future.”

Ms. Hillis has 19 years teaching experience and is currently teaching fourth grade at Dibrell Elementary Schools in McMinnville. Ms. Byrd has 17 year teaching experience in Tennessee schools and currently teaches fourth grade at A. L. Lotts Elementary School in Knoxville. She currently serves on the A.L. Lotts Leadership Team.

Tennessee’s Teacher of the Year Award Program and Banquet is sponsored by the Niswonger Foundation, a Greenville-based organization that provided student scholarships and resources for school systems in Tennessee. Each of the finalists receives a cash award courtesy of the Niswonger Foundation. For more information about the Niswonger Foundation, visit http://www.niswongerfoundation.org/.

For more information, contact Rachel Woods at (615) 253-1960 or Rachel.Woods@tn.gov.                                    ###