Heroes were on display Thursday night as MNPS celebrated its Teachers of the Year, Support Employees of the Year, and Principals of the Year with awards, dinner, gifts, music, and photos.
More than 130 building-level Teacher of the Year winners, along with top support employees and principals, gathered at Music City Center with their family members, principals, and district leaders for the event.
Director of Schools Dr. Adrienne Battle praised the tremendous work ethic and commitment of each of the honorees in her opening remarks.
“The bottom line is this: No matter what role you play in our district, you are putting your heart and soul into it every day,” Dr. Battle said. “Your dedication, your drive, your compassion, your flexibility, your innovative solutions to challenging problems – all of it matters so much to the success of our students.
“We ask you to make sure every student is known, and you meet the moment every day. We are so
fortunate to have you in our district and in our schools. You are all heroes to me.”
Bobbilyn Negron (pictured right), an art teacher at Paragon Mills Elementary School, was named the overall MNPS Teacher of the Year.
The other eight finalists for Teacher of the Year were:
Teacher of the Year Finalists
Elementary School Teachers
- Betsy Vaughan, Charlotte Park Elementary
- Alice Watts, Lockeland Elementary
Middle School Teachers
- Theresa Dulaney, Bellevue Middle
- Katherine Thompson-Dibb, Croft Middle
- Tiffany Wilkerson, John F. Kennedy Middle
High School Teachers
- Andrea Hawkins, Nashville School of the Arts
- Katie Michael, John Overton High School
- Timothy Russell, Hume-Fogg Academic Magnet High School
Support Employees of the Year
The district also celebrated its Support Employees of the Year:
- Dr. Braina Corke, Nutrition Services, Support Hub
- Thomas Cornelius, Classroom Associate, East Nashville Magnet High School
- Lisa Griegel, Admin Records, School Finance, and Payroll, John Trotwood Moore Middle School
Principals of the Year
And MNPS named a Principal of the Year for each tier:
- Dr. Dexter Adams, Ida B. Wells Elementary
- Dr. Trellaney Lane, Creswell Middle Prep School of the Arts
- Roderick Manuel, Early College High
Adams also was named overall Principal of the Year.
The other nine finalists were:
Principal of the Year Finalists
Elementary School Principals
- Dr. Robyn Jewel Beard, Alex Green Elementary
- Dr. Kimberly Bullock, Neely’s Bend Elementary
- Tiffany Curtis, Dodson Elementary
Middle School Principals
- Dr. T-Shaka Coverson, McMurray Middle
- Dr. Kisha Cox, Jere Baxter Middle
- Dr. Carrie Jones, H.G. Hill Middle
High School Principals
- Dr. Brian Mells, Whites Creek High
- Dr. Stephen Sheaffer, James Lawson High
- Myra Taylor, East Nashville Magnet High
As an extra show of appreciation, the district and event sponsors gave each Teacher of the Year recipient a “swag bag” with the following items: an MNPS-branded backpack, an MNPS-branded Bluetooth speaker, an MNPS-branded portfolio notebook, a Trevecca Nazarene University tumbler, and a one-of-a-kind Nashville Predators Bento Box.
Teacher of the Year and Support Employee of the Year finalists also received two admission tickets to the Frist Art Museum, one piece of jewelry donated by Kendra Scott, Nashville Predators 25th anniversary tumblers, monetary gifts provided by Cornerstone Financial, and two tickets to a Nashville Soccer Club game on July 17 in the prominent “615 Spot” at Geodis Park, with the overall Teacher of the Year winner receiving the “Hero Spot.” At the game, finalists will also receive a free meal and a T-shirt and be recognized on the field at the end of the game.
The full photo gallery from the event can be found on Facebook.
Teacher of the Year by School and Tier
Elementary School
- A.Z. Kelley Elementary: Deunte Champion
- Alex Green Elementary: Sarah Iriogbe-Efionayi
- Amqui Elementary: Eric Morris
- Andrew Jackson Elementary: Julie Chitwood
- Bellshire Design Center: Erica Latimer
- Cambridge ELC: Emma Brennan
- Cane Ridge Elementary: Cherronda McDonald
- Carter- Lawrence Elementary: Katrina Cotton
- Casa Azafran ELC: Cheryl Sanders
- Chadwell Elementary: Lakenya Council
- Charlotte Park Elementary: Betsy Vaughan
- Cockrill Elementary: Jessica Cottle
- Cole Elementary: Tegan Terzich
- Crieve Hall Elementary: Alexis Connole
- Cumberland Elementary: Kathryn Sibley
- Dan Mills Elementary: Ruth Jackson
- Dodson Elementary: Heather Graves
- DuPont Elementary: Ellen Butrum
- Eagle View Elementary: Darion Stuckey
- Eakin Elementary: Haley O’Donoghue
- Fall-Hamilton Elementary: Tia Hambrick
- Gateway Elementary: Lindsay Hodge
- Glencliff Elementary: Daniel King
- Glendale Elementary: Patrick Flannery-Reilly
- Glengarry Elementary: Briana Sircy
- Glenview Elementary: Mikka Maderal
- Goodlettsville Elementary: Letrice Stanley
- Gower Elementary: Kristin Hanes
- Granbery Elementary: Stacie Stark
- Harpeth Valley Elementary: Jeanie Crouch
- Hattie Cotton Elementary: Taylor Smith
- Haywood Elementary: Jordan Boyce
- Henry C. Maxwell Elementary: Melissa Martins
- Hermitage Elementary: Robyn Prescott
- Hickman Elementary: Joseph Feldpausch
- Hull Jackson Montessori: Matthew Shuman
- Ida B. Wells Elementary: Myra Smith
- Inglewood Elementary: Laura Laufman
- Ivanetta H. Davis ELC: Colleen Hatcher
- J.E. Moss Elementary: Ursula Smith
- Joelton Elementary: Natalee Hernandez
- Jones Paideia Elementary: Eunicia Turner
- Julia Green Elementary: Millie Lentz
- Lakeview Elementary: Brenda Mullins
- Lockeland Elementary: Alice Watts
- May Werthan Shayne Elementary: Kaitlyn Haag
- McGavock Elementary: Samantha James
- Mt. View Elementary: Olga Dietz
- Napier Elementary: Shirley Counts
- Neely’s Bend Elementary: Caress Covington
- Norman Binkley Elementary: Hannah Curtis
- Old Center Elementary: Amy Gilbert
- Paragon Mills Elementary: Bobbilyn Negron
- Park Avenue Elementary: Terica Porter
- Pennington Elementary: Anna Montanari
- Percy Priest Elementary: Ashley Strobel
- Robert Churchwell Elementary: Terriann Schukert
- Rosebank STEAM Magnet: Jamie Eguiarte
- Ross Early Learning Center: Amy Key
- Ruby Major Elementary: Michaela Brown
- Shwab Elementary: Tiffany Adwaters
- Smith Springs Elementary: Kate Stein
- Stanford Montessori: Kristin Redditt
- Stratton Elementary: Felicia Dismukes
- Sylvan Park Elementary: Margaret Williams
- Thomas A. Edison Elementary: Kendall Carder
- Tom Joy Elementary: Hannah Taylor-Loyd
- Tulip Grove Elementary: Lindsey Schinkai
- Tusculum Elementary: Lindsey Mantegani
- Una Elementary: Marijane Lavell
- Warner Elementary: Maletha Belgon
- Waverly Belmont Elementary: Debbie West
- Westmeade Elementary: Luz Garcia Sepulveda
- Whitsitt STEAM Magnet Elementary: Shannon Calzadilla
Middle School
- Antioch Middle: Anna-Maria Jno-Finn
- Apollo Middle: Sarah Clanton
- Bellevue Middle: Theresa Dulaney
- Cora Howe: Nicole Nouwen
- Creswell Middle Prep School of the Arts: Ramona Byrant
- Croft Middle: Katherine Thompson-Dibb
- Donelson Middle: Laura Shepherd
- DuPont Hadley Middle: Nathaniel O’Neal
- DuPont Tyler Middle: Teneice Renee Kirby
- East Nashville Magnet Middle: Michael Barnes
- Goodlettsville Middle: Samantha Spencer
- H.G. Hill Middle: Shelby Crowe
- Harris -Hillman School: Lauren Woodson
- Haynes Middle: John Parker III
- Head Magnet Middle: Leah McGhee
- Isaac Litton Middle: Lois Donaldson
- Jere Baxter Middle: Corey West
- John Early Middle: Leslie Thompson
- John F. Kennedy Middle: Tiffany Wilkerson
- John Trotwood Moore Middle: Alexandra Benefield
- Madison Middle: Edwinna Roberts
- Margaret Allen Middle: Jordan Hussey
- Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet Middle: Justin Kearney
- McMurray Middle: Adriana Leon
- Meigs Magnet Middle: Sandra Oden
- Moses McKissack Middle: Toni White
- Murrell at Glenn School: Linda Hockaday
- Rose Park Middle: Alisha Jones
- Stratford Stem Magnet (Lower Campus): Tiffany Merritt-Humes
- Thurgood Marshall Middle: Tylar Smith
- Two Rivers Middle: Leslie Pannella
- West End Middle: Kyle Bohle
- William Henry Oliver Middle: Laquilla Nabors
- Wright Middle: Joshua Binkley
High School
- Antioch High: Kathryn Stuckey
- Cane Ridge High: Isaiah Aluoch
- Early College High: Brian Stewart
- East Nashville Magnet High: Alyssa Prindl
- Glencliff High: Suzanne Diaz
- Hillsboro High: Kendall Headley
- Hume-Fogg Magnet High: Timothy G. Russell
- Hunters Lane High: Chantre’ Fair-Coplen
- James Lawson High: Allison Hardy
- John Overton High: Katie Michael
- Johnson Alternative Learning Center: Miya McKenney
- Maplewood High: Andrea Batey Talley
- Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet High: Janet DeSha
- McGavock High: Robert Childress
- MNPS Virtual School: Ella Jackson
- Nashville Big Picture High: Jamie Bonkowski
- Nashville School of the Arts: Andrea Hawkins
- Pearl Cohn High: Lindy Page
- Stratford Stem Magnet School (Upper Campus): Ashley Roth
- The Academy at Hickory Hollow: Melany McDermott
- The Academy at Old Cockrill: Garth Trusler
- The Academy at Opry Mills: Carolina Gruber
- W.A. Bass Alternative Learning Center: Tanisha Clay
- Whites Creek High: Benjamin Aikens
Event Program
Download the event program, which includes the full list of winners.