On Thursday evening, the White County School System recognized its teachers, employees, and bus drivers of the year during a special ceremony held at White County Middle School in Cleveland.
“Our recognition tonight is to highlight individuals that are chosen by their peers as exceptionally dedicated, knowledgeable, motivated and skilled in their field,” said White County Schools Director of Human Resources Laura Corley.
Several nominees were selected in each category, with one person in each category taking home the systemwide honor.
Caroline Bishop, a 6th-grade gifted English Language Arts (ELA) instructor at White County Middle School, was named as this year’s White County School Teacher of the Year.
“I’m just thinking about Ephesians 2:10 because it says, ‘Our purpose is to do the good work that God has prepared for us before him,’ and that good work walks into my classroom every day. So, this isn’t a job, it’s the purpose for which I was created,” Bishop said in accepting the honor.
Other school-level Teachers of the Year for the 2023-24 school year include Kacey Worley from JP Nix Elementary School; Jessica Rogers of Mossy Creek Elementary School; April Teems of Mount Yonah Elementary School; Leslie Hughes of Tesnatee Gap Elementary; and Chris Dotson of White County High School.
Gayle Nash, a school nurse, was presented with the system Employee of the Year award.
Other employees of the year included Kaylin Palmer from J P Nix Elementary; Gayle Nash of Mossy Creek Elementary; Donna Smith from Mt. Yonah Elementary School; Waisha Scobee of Tesnatee Gap: Gail Turner from the White County Middle School; Hayla Stanley of White County High School; and Burt Davis representing the White County Schools Transportation Support.
The bus drivers of the year who were recognized were Tina Johnson, representing the elementary schools; Steve Tucker, a middle and high school driver; and Lynn Taylor, a Special Education driver. Steve Tucker was announced as the system bus driver of the year.
“I’m so excited to be able to recognize our wonderful educators, employees, and bus drivers. They are all deserving. They work hard, and I’m just proud to be a part of this celebration,” commented Corley.
