These educators were honored by Kappa Delta Pi. Click to enlarge.
Kappa Delta Pi, an International Honor Society in Education, honored five educators during the annual "Honor An Educator" program, which was held in the Helen DeVos College of Education at Lee University.
Those teachers honored by KDP included: Barbara Buckner of Bradley Central High School, Jason Dashers of E.L. Ross Elementary School, Ted Gunderson of Waterville Elementary School, Amy Hicks of Blythe-Bower Elementary School and Dana Work of Bradley County Schools.
KDP's program, "Honor An Educator," promotes excellence in the teaching profession. Under this program, outstanding educators are recognized and honored by members of KDP. This person may be a teacher, counselor, or any individual in the field of education that has made a difference in a KDP member's life. Individuals were able to present their educator with a pin that has been specifically designed for this program.
Founded on March 8, 1911, Kappa Delta Pi recognized excellence in education. KDP invites those to memberships who exhibit the ideals of service, high personal standards, and promise in teaching and allied professions. The organization encourages high scholarship, distinction in achievement, and positive contributions to education. Today there are 60,000 members in more than 500 university, college and alumni chapters.
Barbara Buckner currently serves as a science and leadership teacher at Bradley Central High School and as a part-time instructor of Computer Information Systems at Lee University. During her 14 years in education, Ms. Buckner has been honored as Teacher of the Year by Bradley Central High School, Bradley County Schools, Southeast Region, and East Tennessee. She is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Louisville and is a member of the National Education Association, Tennessee Education Association and the Appalachian Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators among others.
Jason Dasher, a teacher for 10 years, is currently teaching fifth grade at E.L. Ross Elementary School. He has previously taught at Stuart Elementary School in Cleveland and in Russell, Ky. Mr. Dasher also serves as a youth pastor at Keith Street Ministries and has worked in several different tutoring programs and coached academic teams.
Ted Gunderson has been a fifth grade teacher at Waterville Elementary School for three years. Prior to that, he has served as the Educational Director of the Boys and Girls Club of Cleveland, a 6th grade teacher at Trewhitt Elementary School, and as a math teacher at Lake Forest Middle School. He was named Waterville's Teacher of the Year in 2007.
Amy Hicks currently serves as a school counselor and behavior interventionist at Blythe-Bower Elementary School. During her 13 years in the education profession, she has served as adjunct faculty at Lee University; an assistant principal, director of guidance, and registrar at Cleveland High School; assistant principal at Blythe-Bower; guidance counselor at Cleveland High School and East Ridge High School; and adjunct faculty at Cleveland State Community College. She is a member of American School Counseling Association, Delta Kappa Gamma International Society, and the North American Society of Parent Training and Development among others.
Dana Work, a teacher for six years, currently serves as special education coordinator for instruction for Bradley County Schools. Prior to this, she has been a special education teacher, an English teacher, and a reading recovery teacher. She implemented three-tier reading models at two pilot schools, she has been a speaker at the International Dyslexia Association National Conference and at the Tennessee Dyslexia Associational Annual Meeting.