Weakley County Teachers of the Year

 

Weakley County Schools is proud to announce our 2025 – 2026 Teachers of the Year!

Each year, teachers across the district come together to vote for the top educators in three grade bands: Pre-K through 4th grade, 5th through 8th grade, and 9th through 12th grade.

What defines a Teacher of the Year? These educators are effective and creative in the classroom and are deeply devoted to their students’ education. They lead by example, both within the school and throughout their community, actively participating in extracurricular activities and inspiring students of all backgrounds and abilities to succeed.

The Tennessee Department of Education oversees the Teacher of the Year program to recognize and honor outstanding teachers in the state. From a state perspective, it is required that the candidate be a full-time, certified teacher who spends most of the day in direct instruction to students. They must have a minimum of three years of experience as a teacher in Tennessee schools and a track record of exceptional gains in student learning.

This year’s winners, who represent their schools and grade bands, are:

Pre-K through 4th Grade

5th Grade through 8th Grade

 

9th Grade through 12th Grade

After the school-level winners were chosen, a district committee carefully reviewed the entries and selected one teacher from each grade band. These representatives selected will next advance to the regional level. The top nine teachers across the state serve a one-year term as advisers to TDOE, hence the 25-26 designation. Currently, Sherri Brawner, 3rd grade teacher at Gleason, is serving as a 24-25 adviser, as she was a top nine finalist for this year.

The district level winners are:

District winners were surprised with a special visit marking the announcement from supervisors and school leadership. They are also featured on a special episode of the Weakley County Schools Growing Our Future Podcast discussing their classroom strategies and experiences.

Donald Ray High, Supervisor of Instruction for Grades 6-12 who oversees the program locally, commented on the achievement, “Our teachers amaze us every day with their hard work and creativity. It’s so wonderful to see them receive this well-deserved recognition from their peers.”

Supervisor of Elementary Instruction Terri Stephenson added, “The teachers selected this year have gone above and beyond to inspire their students. We're incredibly proud of each one of them and know they will represent Weakley County Schools with pride.”

“What an achievement,” noted Assistant Director of Schools Betsi Foster. “This recognition reflects the incredible impact these educators have on their students. We're so proud to celebrate their achievements and the positive changes they bring to our classrooms.”

Director of Schools Jeff Cupples added, “Our teachers are the heart of our schools, and it's an honor to recognize their dedication and hard work. They make a difference each day in the lives of our students both in and out of the classroom.”

For more about Weakley County Schools, visit weakleyschools.com and follow us on Facebook.