
We celebrate their leadership and commitment to students.
Meet the 58 outstanding teachers who are changing lives through their work in student growth, instructional excellence or teacher leadership.
Angela Allen
McGavock High School
Teacher Leadership
WINNER
Lauren Allgood
Head Magnet Middle
Teacher Leadership
WINNER
Tina Amelunke
Mount View Elementary
Teacher Leadership
WINNER
“Thriving students in my classroom are students who are excited about art. They are eager to learn about various art processes and techniques and apply that knowledge as they create art that includes their own choices as an artist. Students love to feel the success of creating something and enjoy seeing their work on display in the hallways and in art shows.”
Kathleen Bell
H. G. Hill Middle
Instructional Excellence
WINNER
“The community can best support teaching excellence by being a part of our schools and seeing how amazing our students are. Whether it be volunteering to tutor, observing teachers in their classrooms, or becoming a community partner. The community needs to see the amazing things happening in our public schools in order to support the incredible work of our teachers.”
Rebecca Bunnell
KIPP Academy Elementary
Teacher Leadership
TEAMS WINNER
Diane Chen Kelly
Stratford STEM Magnet High
Teacher Leadership
WINNER
“My greatest accomplishment involves the creative, exciting atmosphere in the library where all students feel welcome, empowered, ownership, and a vital part of our school. The relationships I have built with students and teachers built on positivity and respect while focused on learning are my greatest success.”
Courtney Corcoran
KIPP Academy Elementary
Teacher Leadership
TEAMS WINNER
“My greatest accomplishment as a teacher is serving my school in an interventionist role. Through nine years of classroom experience in grades K-3, I grew in my understanding of how to serve students and meet their needs through differentiation and extra support. Through time spent building relationships with those students, I saw them grow as they worked toward meeting their individualized goals.”
Rebecca Crawford
McMurray Middle
Student Growth
WINNER
“The community can best support teaching excellence by appreciating the work that teachers do. We have had many community partners get involved in our school by thanking our teachers and providing the resources we need. It makes such a difference! When teachers are appreciated by the families and organizations that surround them, we feel our sense of purpose being affirmed and want to work that much harder.”
Jenna Davis
Glenview Elementary
Student Growth
WINNER
Lori Djuren
Apollo Middle
Teacher Leadership
WINNER
“Thriving students are relaxed, yet attentive and engaged in my classroom. Lowering the affective filter is important for creating a comfortable environment in my EL classroom. When students are relaxed in the classroom, they try new things and step outside of their comfort zone. I celebrate students' differences, cultural or otherwise, and teach them that everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.”
Lauryn England
Fall Hamilton Elementary
Teacher Leadership
WINNER
“The community can best support teaching excellence by investing in growth and development of teacher leaders. When teachers feel supported and thrive, students do too. By undertaking daily actions and efforts to support teachers, our communities are also supporting student growth and learning, and are an integral part of creating the next generation of leaders.”
Laura Fittz
Glencliff High
Teacher Leadership
WINNER
“I see students thriving in my classroom when they feel safe, respected, and challenged. They come into class excited to see each other and curious about the day's learning. They respect their own voice and the voice of every member in the learning community, and they work together to become not only scholars of English, but also scholars of justice, love, and lifelong learning.”
Christopher Foster
Bellevue Middle
Teacher Leadership
WINNER
“Thriving students seek help from fellow students in a manner that allows for argument and disagreement. I welcome confusion and deep thinking as a part of the process for answering questions. Students are encouraged to think and provide justification for their answer to any problem. A thriving student isn't afraid to try. It isn't about right or wrong, but about the thinking that led to the answer.”
Crystal Hicks
Robert Churchwell Elementary
Teacher Leadership
WINNER
“From time to time, I'll get a phone call, email, or Facebook message with an update from an AllStar [student], and they'll remind me that they've never forgotten our class motto - "Good, better, best, never let them rest until your good is better and your better is best!" The pride that these former students feel in themselves is my greatest accomplishment.”
Justin Keaney
Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet
Student Growth
WINNER
“We need a renewed conversation about, and belief in, education as a fundamental public good in our society - something that prepares us for college and career, but also shapes young people into scientifically and culturally informed citizens and happy, healthy, decent human beings. We should expect teachers to be caring, talented professionals, and recruit, train, support, and compensate them like they are.”
Nick Keel
William Henry Oliver Middle
Teacher Leadership
TEAMS WINNER
“Thriving students are the ones who can follow us anywhere through anything, no matter the type of learning we are doing, because they're always giving effort, they're always trying. They ask for help, they engage with the content, they can access and understand content in ways they never knew they could prior.”
Jennifer Keigher
East Nashville Magnet High
Teacher Leadership
WINNER
Winston Ly
Valor Flagship Academy
Student Growth
WINNER
“Thriving students are eager to ask strong, detailed questions after already spending time to capture their own understanding. They are humble to receive help and excited to share their understanding with their table partner and the whole class. Thriving students in my classroom strive for excellence and want those around them to also feel successful.”
Maria Marable
Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet
Teacher Leadership
TEAMS WINNER
“Provide opportunities to listen to teachers about their concerns and knowledge about educating students. Advocate for policies that respect teachers and help students. Understand that excellent teaching does not always equate to excellent statistics. Acknowledge that teachers are professionals and work hard. Recognize excellent teachers so that the general public can share in the pride of the accomplishments taking place in their local community.”
Christopher Martin
Meigs Middle Magnet
Instructional Excellence
WINNER
Kaleigh McRoberts
Valor Flagship Academy
Student Growth
WINNER
“Thriving students in my classroom look to each other and their own research for answers. They ask questions, know they can find the answers with time and effort, and persevere. They are able to form their own opinions; but at the same time, they know there are other points of view that have to be considered, questioned, and researched.”
Andrew Molloy
John Overton High
Instructional Excellence
WINNER
“... One thing I’m especially proud of is the role I’ve played in intentionally working to foster a creative, open, and supportive environment among my colleagues. I hope that, in the years since, I’ve helped my team members feel supported and encouraged as we all do our best to provide a quality education for the kids in our community.”
Paula Pendergrass
Granbery Elementary
Teacher Leadership
WINNER
Paige Pennigar
LEAD Prep Southeast
Teacher Leadership
WINNER
“The community circle nature of my classroom culture allows for students to engage with content on a deeper level that keeps them in the driver's seat of their learning. Students ask each other questions in my classroom and push each other's thinking, using me as a resource only when needed. This ownership of learning fosters an environment where students thrive daily.”
Elizabeth Phelps
Cameron College Prep
Teacher Leadership
WINNER
“When a student chooses to use their lunch hour to come visit my class or reaches out for help with their homework years after leaving my classroom, that's when I know that I have made a lasting impact. That lasting impact and knowing that I helped shape that child into a scholar is my greatest accomplishment as a teacher.”
Jason Proffitt
Hunters Lane High
Teacher Leadership
WINNER
“Invest and challenge the young people around you. Expect them to act positively while supporting them in their struggles. Our students and schools need more positive voices; invest in texts and activities that push students to grow. All students need access to enriching books and experiences. Income level should not determine your exposure to the variety of the world.”
Christine Quarles
John B. Whitsitt Elementary
Instructional Excellence
WINNER
“Every year as we are introduced to "our kids," we feel the weight of the hardships our students suffer and celebrate the joys they get excited about. I don't leave my job at the door; it goes home with me and is constantly on my mind. We should be acknowledged for the passion it takes to be a good teacher and role model.”
Jayne Riand
William Henry Oliver Middle
Teacher Leadership
TEAMS WINNER
Mary Ruth Saunders
A. Z. Kelley Elementary
Teacher Leadership
WINNER
“Our community can support teaching excellence by giving to education. I don't mean just give money. Go to a school and give of your time. Drop off doughnuts during Teacher Appreciation Week. Help clean up school grounds before the year begins. Support teachers by standing beside them and appreciating the professionals they are in the community.”
Ryan Selvaggio
Hunters Lane High
Teacher Leadership
WINNER
“Thriving students in my classroom are engaged physically and mentally; they are confident in speaking up and sharing in class despite not knowing if their answers are correct. Such students excel working collaboratively with others, crave feedback, and consistently want to learn from their mistakes. Most of all, thriving students are willing to work independently, yet they ask for help when needed.”
Jennifer Sharp
John Overton High
Teacher Leadership
WINNER
“In this profession, there is truly no better feeling than knowing that your students have gone on to find success and happiness in their lives and have reached their potential (and beyond)! These stories are the best reminder of how bright our future can be if we continue to invest in our students every day.”
John Skinner
Hume-Fogg Magnet High
Teacher Leadership
TEAMS WINNER
“The research is clear – family and community involvement in K-12 education leads to better outcomes for students. Community involvement is absolutely essential for teaching excellence. I feel that we must actively seek ways to include the community in a child’s education while encouraging community support of all of the hard work I see teachers doing across MNPS every single day.”
Rick Stanley
Hume-Fogg Magnet High
Teacher Leadership
TEAMS WINNER
“Thriving students in my classroom are authentically engaged in relevant and interesting activities and dialogue. They are pushing each other to be their best selves and guiding their own learning. Ideally, this is best accomplished when the students are doing the heavy lifting and when my classroom is student-centered.”
Kaitlyn Stasik
KIPP High School
Teacher Leadership
WINNER
Jeremy Summitt
Valor Flagship Academy
Student Growth
WINNER
“The community can best support teaching excellence by recognizing excellent teaching while highlighting those successes as examples of how to change children's life trajectories. Sharing resources, ideas, and strategies across schools is what can make our community stronger because it will allow our network of educators to be more well-equipped to tackle the daily challenges that teaching presents.”
Krista Ann Sumner
Harpeth Valley Elementary
Teacher Leadership
WINNER
Walker Vail
John B. Whitsitt Elementary
Instructional Excellence
WINNER
“We have worked tirelessly to ensure student growth by creating a culture that invests in every student and family through equitable access to learning. Personally, I have been lucky to be part of the leadership team that has been dedicated to teacher development to ensure that all students are learning with and from highly qualified professionals who set high expectations for themselves and their students.”
Sarah Beth Watts
Waverly-Belmont Elementary
Teacher Leadership
WINNER
“I think there are a number of ways for our community to support teaching excellence, but I think one of the best ways to show support is advocacy. If our community advocates for the appropriate resources and funds for our schools, then we as educators can provide the best education for our students.”
Jane Weaver
Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet
Teacher Leadership
TEAMS WINNER
“They are engaged and take ownership of their own learning. Our learning community is safe and respectful, so students feel comfortable enough to take risks in their language study, and are often talkative - but in the target language, French! They are curious, inquiring constantly about the language and cultures of the francophone world.”
Cristina Zeppos
Lockeland Elementary
Instructional Excellence
WINNER
“I believe my greatest accomplishment as a teacher is the feedback I’ve received from current and former students that they have become better readers or enjoy reading more after I have been their teacher. Not only does this show that their self-esteem in reading has grown, but has created a love of reading for them when they had previously thought otherwise.”






