Tech's College of Education & Human Sciences celebrates faculty, staff, educators and students
Local teachers pose for a group photo at the College of Education & Human Sciences'
11th annual Teacher Appreciation Awards Celebration. From left: Amber Hargis, Cookeville
High School; Lori Sexton, Cane Creek Elementary; Kimberly Ashlan Doss, graduate student;
Stephanie Jones, Algood Middle School; Cindy Gray, Northeast Elementary; Candice Harper,
Avery Trace Middle School; Erin Stratton, Prescott South Middle School; and Melody
Presley, Parkview Elementary.
On National Teacher Appreciation Day, members of Tennessee Tech University's College
of Education & Human Sciences and district partners gathered at the Millard Oakley
STEM Center for the 11th annual Teacher Appreciation Awards Celebration. Recipients
included the faculty, staff, current education professionals and students.
“The awardees were nominated by a combination of students, faculty, staff and mentor
teachers,” said Lisa Zagumny, dean of the College of Education & Human Sciences. “We
were excited to share the positive and supportive words from the nomination letters.
Often people are unaware of the genuine, long-term impact they can have as leaders,
role models and friends…it’s an honor to celebrate them all.”
This year’s Outstanding Faculty Teaching Award went to Professor Michael Phillips
in Tech's Department of Exercise Science. The Outstanding Faculty Research Award was
presented to Associate Professor Katherine Hermann-Turner in the Department of Counseling
& Psychology. The Outstanding Faculty Service Award went to Assistant Professor Krystal
Kennedy in the Department of Curriculum & Instruction. The Outstanding “Team Player”
Award was given to Assistant Professor and Director of the Oakley STEM Center, Darek
Potter.
The 2024-25 Outstanding Staff Award went to Administrative Associate Jennifer Goad
in the Department of Exercise Science. Associate Professor Nicole Henniger from the
Department of Counseling & Psychology received this year’s Outstanding Advisor Award.
“Our college works very closely with districts and schools all over the state of Tennessee,”
said Amy Brown, director of the Office of Teacher Education. “These relationships
provide us the network of support we need to develop highly qualified, effective,
and engaging educators, school counselors, and education administrators. We were so
proud to celebrate these impactful professionals."
This year’s Outstanding Early Childhood Educator is Nora Mott from Findlay Elementary
School in Sparta. The Outstanding Elementary Educator is Tiffany White from Pleasant
Hill Elementary School in Cumberland Co. The Outstanding Middle School Educator is
Erin Stratton from Prescott South Middle School in Cookeville. The Outstanding High
School Educator is Jason Crockett from White County High School. The Outstanding Music
Educator is Lori Sexton from Cane Creek Elementary School. The Outstanding Art Educator
is Nicole Farley from White Co. Middle School. The Outstanding English as a Second
Language Educator is Stephanie Jones from Algood Middle School. The Outstanding School
Librarian is Cindy Gray from Northeast Elementary School. The Outstanding Physical
Educator is Candice Harper from Avery Trace Middle School. The Outstanding Special
Educator is Amber Hargis from Cookeville High School. The Outstanding School Counselor
is Brandon Grizzard who serves the schools of White Co. The Outstanding Educational
Administrator is Mel Presley from Parkview Elementary. Outstanding Teaching as a Profession
Educator of the Year went to Lesley Williams from Monterey High School.
At center, Alma Anderson, principal of Avery Trace Middle School, is shown celebrating
with other attendees.
In addition to the faculty and district partners, the awards celebration showcased
the impact and determination of the college’s students.
“Our students work hard to achieve their academic goals. In doing so, they demonstrate
their commitment to the professions they are pursuing, leadership, professionalism,
service, tenacity, and teamwork,” said Associate Dean Matthew Smith. “We recognize
undergraduate and graduate students in the categories of future educator, go-getter,
leadership, professionalism and service. We are thrilled to honor this year’s awardees.”
There were two future educator undergraduate award winners: Ryan Miller, a secondary
education major; and Megan Staton, an elementary education major. There were also
two go-getter undergraduate awardees: Aimee Lawrence, art education, and Spencer Moore,
a psychology major.
The graduate go-getter award went to Shaelyn Miller, a curriculum and instruction
major. The leadership undergraduate award was presented to Kensea Skelton, an elementary
education major. An undergraduate professionalism award went to Jill Bieber, an exercise
science major. The graduate awardee was McKenna Stevens, a Ph.D. candidate in exceptional
learning. The service undergraduate recipient was Natalee Sturgill, an elementary
education major, and the graduate service recipient was Amanda Edwards, a curriculum
and instruction major.
This is the second year the college has awarded the Dr. David L. Larimore Excellence
in Research Award. This honor is presented to a graduate student from the College
of Education & Human Sciences who has shown exceptional research achievements. Faculty
recommendations are required to attest to the student's research excellence. This
year there were two recipients: Kimberly Ashlan Doss, 2024 Master of Arts graduate
in curriculum and instruction, and Lara Strate, 2025 Ph.D. graduate in counseling
and supervision.
“Each year we also recognize an alum of the college who regularly demonstrates their
commitment to their profession,” said Smith. “This year we recognize Krystal Fortney,
2013 Master of Arts graduate in Mental Health Counseling. Ms. Fortney is a dedicated
mental health advocate and leader and is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Counselor
Education and Supervision at Capella University,” he added.
To learn more about Tech's College of Education & Human Sciences, please visit www.tntech.edu/education or email education@tntech.edu.