Eighteen people were recognized as Tennessee's top educators Thursday night at the Mrs. Grissom's Salads 2002 Excellence in Education Awards banquet in Nashville.
Ms. Susan Bunch, a supervisor with Henderson County Schools, was named Supervisor of the Year. Robbie Robinson McGowan, a principal at Mooreland Heights Elementary in Knoxville, received the Principal of the Year award. Ms. Deborah Smith, a kindergarten teacher at Glencliff Elementary School in Nashville, received the 2003 Teacher of the Year award.
The award ceremonies climaxed a search throughout the state for Tennessee's best supervisors, principals and teachers. Each will receive $5,000 to be used towards making their schools even better.
Fifteen other finalists were also recognized and each will receive $1,000 for their schools. The finalists included:
Ms. Robbie Anderson, supervisor with Johnson City Schools
Ms. Teri Anderson, supervisor with Putnam County Schools
Mr. Dean Holland, supervisor with Tullahoma City Schools
Ms. Brooke Hodges, supervisor with Huntingdon Special School District
Ms. Nancy Williamson, supervisor with Oneida Special School District
Mr. Stan Baskin, principal at Homer Pittard Campus School in Murfreesboro
Ms. Marsha Hamblen Carr, principal at Griffith Elementary School in Dunlap
Mr. Joel Giffin, principal at Maryville Middle School in Maryville
Ms. Sara Liechty, principal at Jack T. Farrar Elementary in Tullahoma
Ms. Vivian Woods, principal at Snow Hill Elementary in Etowah
Ms. Karen White, 1st grade teacher at Cherokee Elementary School in Johnson City
Ms. Wanda Gray, 5th grade teacher at Richland Elementary School in Memphis
Ms. Debbie Smotherman, 7th -10th grade teacher at Martin Luther King Magnet School in Nashville
Ms. Sharon Anderson, 11th grade teacher at Cookeville High School in Cookeville
Ms. Kim Mullins, 9th-10th grade teacher at East Ridge High School in Chattanooga
The winners were selected from a field of over 2,000 nominees gathered from around the state through school and peer nominations, through participating Kroger stores and online at www.mrsgrissoms.com .
"The purpose of this program was to recognize and reward the very best among Tennessee's educators," said Grace Grissom, founder of Mrs. Grissom's Salads and sponsor of the program. "I'm very proud of all of Tennessee's educators and the positive impact they have on the lives of our children."
Nominees underwent a rigorous evaluation process by a selection committee to make it to the finals. "We let those closest to the educators tell us who is doing the best job," commented Faye Taylor, Commissioner of Education for the State of Tennessee. "The Department of Education appreciates Mrs. Grissom's Salads for underwriting this very worthwhile program," continued Taylor. "It is this type of support from the business community that makes Tennessee such a wonderful place to live and raise our families."