posted March 26, 2008
Three Hamilton County teachers will be given the royal treatment for a day, as they serve as the king and queens of education in the community.
Jeff Paulson, from Thrasher Elementary, Janet Smith, from Loftis Middle and Elizabeth Renneisen from Tyner Academy were named 2008 HCDE Tennessee Teachers of the Year. Mr. Paulson is the elementary (K-4) representative, Ms. Smith the middle school representative (grades 5-8) and Ms. Renneisen represents the high schools (grades 9-12).
To celebrate their accomplishments, the three teachers will ride in a limousine to the Chattanoogan Hotel on Monday for a special recognition luncheon. The luxury ride and lunch are hosted by Ray Barr, president and owner of United Service Associates in Athens.
“We are very happy to be able to honor our best and brightest teachers for their dedication to our students,” said Stacey Roddy, Director of Elementary Math and Science, who coordinates the awards. “These three educators have dedicated themselves to our community’s youth and they deserve this recognition and so much more.”
Following are highlights of the 2008 Hamilton County Schools Teachers of the Year:
Jeff Paulson, Lead Literacy Teacher, Thrasher Elementary, Grades K-4 Division
• 10 years of teaching experience
• 7 years at Thrasher Elementary – Third Grade and Lead Literacy Teacher
• 7 years in TN public schools
• BS from Bryan College
• Masters – Grand Canyon University
• Member of education associations and professional organizations
• Presenter for Teacher-to Teacher Training Corps
• Extensive list of conducting and presenting professional development workshops locally and nationwide
• Extensive community involvement including volunteering at the Creative Discovery Museum, performing at a local brain-injury research foundation and community events, and writing curriculum and activities for the Chattanooga Regional History Museum.
“I wanted a career that had meaning and lasting impact; investing in people became important to me,” Mr. Paulson said. “Students – Herein is the root to all matters and motives in my teaching. Education became like my own green eggs and ham – a strange dish I had avoided for years only to discover its pleasures in one tentative bite. My students are the trump card against all other professional accomplishments. The experienced teachers that mentored me have proved that a reflective teacher can always hone the skill of engaging and teaching students. May I never miss the thrill.”
“Passionate and professional are two words that come to mind when I think of Jeff Paulson,” Thrasher Elementary Principal Jean Trohanis said in her recommendation letter. “His enthusiasm for learning spreads to his students. His content knowledge along with his pedagogy and passion make him an effective teacher.”
“Jeff is a content-rich teacher whose instruction is based directly on research, best practices, and state standards,” Sabrina Walton, HCDE director of Literacy, said in her recommendation letter. “Not only is he strong in pedagogy and content, but he cares about his students and always looks for ways to meet them in authentic and relevant ways.”
Janet Smith, 7th Grade Language Arts, Loftis Middle School, Grades 5-8 Division
• 22 year veteran of teaching
• 22 years teaching in TN public Schools
• 12 years at Loftis Middle School
• Bachelor’s Degree from Georgia State University
• Master’s from Tusculum College
• Member of education associations and professional organizations
• Served on the district curriculum alignment committee for language arts
• Served as mentor for fellow educators
• Served as UTC Cooperating teacher
• Extensive community involvement including coordinating service projects for Beta Club members, supervising after school peer tutoring programs, participating in recycling aluminum cans, volunteering at Soddy Daisy Healthcare Center, Signal Center for handicapped children, Bethel Bible Village Fall Festival, and cleaning the North Chickamauga Creek area.
“I can’t remember a time that I did not want to go into teaching as a career,” Mrs. Smith said. “I suppose I was influenced to become a teacher by my elementary teachers and the many positive experiences I had in school. Mentoring new teachers is an important contribution for all educators. Even though it can be viewed as an additional duty by many, it is imperative that veteran teachers share their experience and expertise with the next generation of educators. I have learned as much from recent graduates as I feel I have shared with them. My former students are my greatest accomplishment. Whenever a student returns and tells me how easy English is the following year or even into high school and college, I know I have done my job. I believe every child deserves the opportunity to achieve his/her maximum potential.”
“By providing a rigorous curriculum and differentiated instruction, her students take ownership of learning and excel. This is evident in the exceptional writing scores students have received throughout the year,” Loftis Middle School Principal Bob Walter said in his letter of recommendation. “Janet teaches with excitement and enthusiasm, she is quick to investigate learning opportunities that might benefit her class.”
“I found Mrs. Smith to be a creative, energetic, and highly motivational teacher,” David Cowan, Area 1 Director, said in his letter of recommendation. “Mrs. Smith has a wonderful rapport with her students, and her classroom is lively and engaging.”
Elizabeth Renneisen, English teacher, Tyner High Academy, Grades 9-12 Division
• 15 year veteran of teaching
• 15 years teaching in TN public schools
• 2 years at Tyner High Academy
• Adjunct Professor of English at CSTCC and UTC
• Bachelor’s Degree from UTC
• Master’s in English from UTC
• PhD. In English from MTSU in May, 2008
• Member of several professional educational organizations
• Leader in professional development, locally and at the state level
• Community involvement includes volunteering to help with stray animals at Riverview Animal Hospital and animals waiting for adoption, assisting in educating immigrants to become naturalized citizens through DAR, and driving elderly citizens to the polls during elections and assisting at the food bank.
“From an early age I knew that I would spend my life teaching, and my focus never shifted from the classroom,” Ms. Renneisen said. “I arrived on my first day, wearing my ‘teacher clothes’ and ready to make a difference in these youngsters’ lives; on the contrary, they made a difference in mine. It was important for my students to understand that no matter what circumstances they were given at birth, they could attain any level of intellectual achievement in life. I began an AP English program in my school and the goal for the program was for each of those kids to be competitive in life and for them to understand that they had received the same quality education that every other child had received. Perhaps my most tenacious belief in education is that every student, no matter what academic level his test scores indicate, can achieve outrageous victories in the classroom. In order for every student to succeed, every student must be actively engaged; there can be no passive learners.
“I have always searched for teachers who have the ability to reach out to students and make them want to learn. I look for teachers who challenge students to reach beyond the ordinary and strive for greater heights. Mrs. Renneisen is such a teacher,” Tyner Academy Principal Carol Goss said in her letter of recommendation. “It doesn’t matter if she is teaching the brightest or the struggling learner, her students are challenged and learning.”
“Her students have continually recognized her as Most Respected Teacher, Most Caring Teacher, and Most Influential Teacher,” Dr. Ava Warren, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction, said in her recommendation letter. “She makes a difference with all students.”
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