Hamilton County Schools Names 2015 Teachers Of The Year

Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Three Hamilton County teachers reign as royalty this week, as they are honored as the 2015 Hamilton County Teachers of the Year. The teachers and their principals will be recognized at a special luncheon at the Chattanoogan Hotel on Friday, from 11 a.m.–12:30 p.m.

Felicion McMillon from Barger Academy of Fine Arts, Nina Deaton from Red Bank Middle School and Sandra Howard from Chattanooga High School Center for Creative Arts were named 2015 HCDE Teachers of the Year. All three teachers are competing at the regional level.

“It is very special when we honor outstanding teachers for their dedication to our students. The greatest asset any school system can have is outstanding teachers,” said Stacey Roddy, director of Elementary Math & Science, who coordinates the awards. “We know from research that teacher effectiveness is directly related to improving student achievement. These three teachers have dedicated themselves to the success of their students and they deserve this recognition and so much more.”

The following are highlights of the 2015 Hamilton County Schools Teachers of the Year:

Felicion McMillon, K-5 Dance, Barger Academy of Fine Arts, Grades K-4 Division

12 years teaching experience in Tennessee public schools
New Teacher Mentor
Mentor to teen girls at Parks and Recreation
Presenter for Arts in Education Forum
Chattanooga Teen Violence Prevention Arts Program, Theatre/Dance Director
Tinillik Dance – Inner City Youth Competitive Dance Team, Director/Coach
Barger Academy Teacher of the Year, 2015
Nannie Mae Johnson Award for outstanding service to youth in the community, 2014
Teacher of the Month – Caring (12/2013), Perseverance (5/2011), Respect (9/2006)
Outstanding Dance Teacher, City of Chattanooga, 2001
Recognition for Outstanding Coach, Brainerd High School, 1997

“In order to be an effective educator you have to be a willing learner. Great teachers are life-long learners who constantly make changes in their teaching styles to meet the needs of their students,” Mrs. McMillon said. “My students know that I am excited to teach them and learn from them every day. My students know that they are valuable. Each one is an amazing, teachable canvas waiting to explore and learn new things.”

“My ultimate goal is not only to prepare my students for the next year, but also to teach them how to become independent productive human beings,” Mrs. McMillon stated. “I could have been a doctor, a lawyer, a musician but I chose to mold children to be anything that they desire. It is not possible to be in any of those professions without the help of a teacher.”

Mrs. McMillon states, “You may have to wait years before your first success story, but the first time a student mentions you in their valedictorian speech or the first time a student returns to your elementary school with a college graduation invitation or the first time you see a former student working their dream job, you will never forget that you chose the best profession ever.”

“Felicion shows her love for the students through the way she cares for them the moment they enter her room,” Barger Academy Principal Mr. Greg Bagby wrote in his letter of recommendation. “She conducts dance studio classes daily after school to assist students in their personal growth as dancers, while serving as the lead dance instructor for the award winning Tinillik Dance Group. Felicion continually works with the core academic teachers to assist with motivation, teaching strategies as well as arts integration in the classroom.”

A colleague, Giselle Palmer stated, “Ever since the first time I set foot in Mrs. McMillon’s classroom nearly five years ago, I have seen evidence of her high expectations, strong rapport with students, and elevated level of student engagement. She constantly finds ways to integrate the general curriculum standards into her lessons. For example, Mrs. McMillon wrote an amazing rap that teaches students the structure and function of the branches of government and I used it with my students for years with great success!”

A former student, Agnes Porter stated, “In life, a person is only allowed a handful of life changing experiences and for me being a student in her 4^th grade class was definitely one of them. Mrs. McMillon introduced me to a world of learning that I had never known before, one that was fun and kept me wanting to learn more. She has shown me that individuality is something that one must embrace, for it is what makes you unique and special and that anything is possible through determination and hard work. It may not have made a lot of sense when I was younger, but it is something that has gotten me through the hard times.”

Nina Deaton, Grades 6-8, Red Bank Middle School, Grades 5-8 Division

7 years teaching experience in Tennessee public schools
Facilitator of many workshops including progress monitoring, data collection, exceptional education laws, individual plans, and how to include students with disabilities in regular classrooms
Exceptional Education Department Chair
Co-created curriculum for grades 6-8 direct instruction classes in Reading and Math
Mentor for student teachers
Creator of “Families in Need” program to support families in the community
Grant recipient for incorporating assistive technology for students with disabilities
Established after school tutoring sessions for all students in all content areas
Red Bank Middle School Teacher of the Year, 2012 and 2015
Highly Effective Teacher for the past 5 years

Ms. Deaton said, “Mrs. McClendon was the most outstanding teacher I had ever met. She taught me that I could learn a new skill (even though I had been told time and again that I was not good with my hands) and that I could learn to overcome what others had told me and most importantly, what I told myself. That is what I hope to do with my students – to open up the realm of possibility for anything that they can imagine. My biggest challenge will always be to impart a little of Mrs. McClendon’s ‘magic’ so that my students can expand their own realm of possibility.”
“I want to be part of that journey, to open up each student’s mind to his or her own greatness, to nurture that and to learn from it,” Ms. Deaton said. “My job is to act as a catalyst with my enthusiasm, my own love of learning, and my commitment to help them learn and grow into citizens that all of us can be proud of.”

“My personal teaching style is student-centered and is based on each student’s individual needs. This approach consists of getting to know all of my students’ strengths and weaknesses, their learning styles, and learning about what motivates them,” Ms. Deaton stated. “We need to remind ourselves that our love of learning did not come by force but by love and patience.”

“Ms. Deaton has exhibited excellent leadership skills and the willingness to seek out new teaching strategies as well as an exemplary advocate for children,” Red Bank Middle School Principal Mr. John Pierce wrote in his letter of recommendation. “Her work in helping teachers better understand exceptional education students and how to better instruct them have proven to be invaluable.”

Ms. Andrea Edmondson, Assistant Principal at Red Bank Middle School stated, “The qualities Nina Deaton possess reaches well beyond just content knowledge, strategies, and understanding data. In the classroom, Ms. Deaton is met with daily challenges to improve the learning of students who struggle academically, socially, and behaviorally. She meets those challenges by serving as an advocate for her students in not only nurturing their development but also giving them a dose of tough love when needed. Ms. Deaton goes out of her way to make sure all students are given the tools they need to be successful regardless of obstacles they might encounter along the way. The goal of preparing students for life is one that Ms. Deaton takes to heart. My dream would be for every child to have a ‘Nina Deaton’ in their life.”
A colleague, Kathy Mincy stated, “I have observed Nina at work in her direct instruction class. She works very hard to make sure all students are challenged and supported while they endeavor to achieve success. She goes the extra mile to ensure academic and personal success for students.”

Sandra Howard, 11^th Grade, Chattanooga High School Center for Creative Arts, Grades 9-12 Division

15 years of teaching experience in Tennessee public schools
Grade level chair – 11^th grade
Facilitator of many workshops on literacy, the arts, and CCSS
Art ‘N U - work with elementary students in a creative writing workshop
Publish articles in monthly parent newsletter
Urban Specialist Program at UTC
Grant recipient for numerous grants to incorporate technology
Accepted to Tennessee Arts Academy
Received National Board Certification – adolescent English
Have students published in the Young Southern Writers and other publications
Had a student receiving national recognition for an essay

“Working at a school for fine arts, I also include the use of the arts as a medium for making meaning and demonstrating understanding of key academic concepts,” Mrs. Howard said. “Evidence of the success of my work is seen in the consistent increase in my student AP scores over the years. This past year 75% of my students who took the AP test scored a 3 or higher. My students’ ACT scores and writing assessment scores have also been equivalent in achievement and growth.”

“I believe that teaching is educating and nurturing the entire child – body, mind, and spirit,” Mrs. Howard stated. “I also feel strongly that all children deserve to be taught at the highest level possible and should be provided with the tools to succeed at those levels. My experience with students over the past fifteen years has been that they will live up to expectations.”
“Our students are first and foremost children who need to feel safety and security in order to thrive and not just survive in school,” Mrs. Howard said. “These young people need someone to believe in them, and sometimes we are the only ones who do it. It should be our goal as teachers to maintain a deep understanding of our students and to present them with challenges and opportunities to realize their potential.”

Mrs. Howard states, “The rewards for the dedication to my students and my calling are truly intrinsic. I continue to do what I do because there is nothing like seeing or hearing about a former student who has succeeded in his/her future aspirations. It is impossible to quantify the feeling of a former student returning to explain how his/her college English classes are a breeze because of my class.”

“Some of Sandra’s greatest strengths are in the area of planning, implementing, and diversifying instruction. Her strong language background enables her to instill a love for writing in her students,” Chattanooga High School Center for Creative Arts Principal Mrs. Debbie Smith wrote in her letter of recommendation. “The data generated under her guidance is some of the highest in the district and state. Among a well-respected group of teachers, Sandra Howard stands as an exemplar to all.”

“Mrs. Howard always brings professionalism and excellence to her work,” John Echols, a colleague said in his letter of recommendation. “Instead of my comments, I think I should let her students speak.”
“She takes into account personal issues that students may be having and understands that they might need a few moments to themselves. It’s hard to concentrate on what’s happening in a classroom when you are having family problems, and Mrs. Howard understands that.” (student, class of 2015)
“Her class was one of the only English classes that I did all of the reading for. She was tough because she expected the best from us and only our best. She knew what we were capable of and wouldn’t let us do anything less, all the while pushing us to make our best better.” (student, class of 2012)

A student, Harper Beeland stated, “I have had the pleasure of having Mrs. Sandra Howard as a teacher for four years – in sixth, seventh, and eighth grade for a middle school writer’s studio, and this current school year for eleventh grade AP English Language and Composition. I knew from the first assignment that this class would be different from all of my other classes and I was right. She has intensified my love for writing, has made me a better writer, and has prepared me for both college and life.”