Kristin Burrus
The Tennessee Department of Education on Tuesday announced the nine finalists for the 2017-18 Tennessee Teacher of the Year award.
Kristin Burrus, from Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences, is one of them. The finalists represent each Center of Regional Excellence (CORE) area in the state, with three finalists in each Grand Division (west, middle, and east). Grand Division winners and the Teacher of the Year will be selected from this group andannounced during an honorary banquet this fall.
Officials from Hamilton County Department of Education said, "As a STEM Fellows Program member, Ms. Burrus works to include critical thinking and problem-solving in every classroom lesson because she knows teacher efficacy is the number one factor in determining student success.
"Ms. Burrus is also a cabinet member participant in the CSAS Shared Leadership Team, a presenter at the National Paideia Conference and Magnet Schools of America conference, and the facilitator of the CSAS Earth Club.
"We at HCDE are thrilled Ms. Burrus is one of only nine finalists from across the state. She truly is an amazing example of the Great Teachers, Great Leaders we strive for in HCDE schools."
"These teachers are our students’ heroes," Education Commissioner Candice McQueen said. “Our educators have a direct, positive influence on students every day. And, because of educators like these nine finalists, Tennessee’s future is bright.”
The final winner will represent Tennessee in the National Teacher of the Year competition and serve as an ambassador foreducation in the state throughout the year. To qualify, candidates must have been teaching full-time for at least three years,have a track record of exceptional gains in student learning, and be effective school and community leaders.The nine finalists for 2017-18 Tennessee Teacher of the Year are:
West Tennessee:
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CORE Region
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Teacher
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School
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District
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Shelby/Municipals
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Stephanie Rice
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Crosswind Elementary
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Collierville Schools
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Southwest
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Mandy Fraley
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NortheastMiddle
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Jackson-Madison County Schools
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Northwest
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Carol Nanney
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McKenzieElementary
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McKenzie Special School District
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Middle Tennessee
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CORERegion
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Teacher
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School
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District
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MidCumberland
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Cicely Woodard
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West End Middle
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Metro Nashville Public Schools
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SouthCentral
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Chelle Daniels
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WestMiddle
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Tullahoma City Schools
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UpperCumberland
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Rebecca Ryan
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White County High
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White County Schools
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East Tennessee
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CORERegion
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Teacher
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School
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District
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Southeast
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Kristin Burrus
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Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences
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Hamilton County Department of Education
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East Tennessee
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Karen Latus
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Bearden High
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Knox County Schools
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FirstTennessee
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Nancy Miles
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South Side Elementary
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Johnson City Schools
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