A third grade teacher at Northside Elementary School was named "DeKalb County Teacher of the Year" Thursday night during the sixth annual Teacher of the Year banquet at the Elizabeth Chapel Baptist Church.
Sandy Willingham received the honor and a check for $150 from Liberty State Bank, the sponsor of the banquet. The presentation was made by Director of Schools Mark Willoughby and Roy Nelson Pugh of Liberty State Bank.
Willingham was among five local educators who were recognized during the banquet for being chosen by peers as "Teacher of the Year" at their schools. The others were Amanda Rhoady, a first grade teacher at Smithville Elementary School; Suzette Barnes, a seventh grade educator at DeKalb Middle School; Tammy Payne, a fourth grade teacher at DeKalb West School; and Joey Reeder, a History teacher at DeKalb County High School
Every year DeKalb County participates in the Tennessee Teacher of the Year program. Each school picks a Teacher of the Year from their school who is in the running for honors at the county and regional level. Teachers are selected in the categories of Pre-K through 4th grade, 5th through 8th grade, and 9th through 12th grade. The overall Teacher of the Year from DeKalb County is selected from among the five teachers of the year at the school level.
Principals and assistant principals introduced the Teachers of the Year at their schools and remarked on how they deserved the honor.
The guest speaker for the banquet was Billie Friel, Pastor of the Alexandria First Baptist Church.
(TOP PHOTO: Director of Schools Mark Willoughby, Sandy Willingham, Roy Nelson Pugh of Liberty State Bank, and School Board Chairman Johnny Lattimore)
(BOTTOM PHOTO: Mark Willoughby, Suzette Barnes, Amanda Rhoady, Joey Reeder, Tammy Payne, Sandy Willingham, Roy Nelson Pugh, and Johnny Lattimore)