Teachers, assistants and principal of the year named in Oak Ridge Schools
Officials with Oak Ridge Schools have announced the school system's Teachers of the Year.
The Teacher of the Year program recognizes and celebrates the wealth of excellent educators that exist across the state who prioritize the needs of all children, who devote their professional lives to enriching the lives of Tennessee students, and who demonstrate exceptional gains in student achievement, according to a news release.
This program gives the opportunity to recognize and reward outstanding educators in every school in the state. Educators are selected competitively through five cycles: school, district, region, grand division, and state in three grade bands: preK–4, 5–8, and 9–12.
Educators selected at each cycle receive local recognition and awards underwritten by local sources. State recognition and awards include a banquet honoring the nine region-level award winners, according to a news release.
The following information on the honorees was provided by Oak Ridge Schools.
Teachers of the Year
In the PreK-4 Grade: Billie Goldston
Goldston has been a teacher for four years in Oak Ridge, and 22 years overall. She is currently teaching third grade at Glenwood Elementary School. A favorite project of hers was called “Math-stronauts.” She recognized that students needed motivation to learn their math facts, so when they mastered their 1s – 10s, she attached pictures of their faces to astronaut printouts and displayed them on her classroom door. Before long, students were excited to have the title of “Math-stronaut.” The TN Ready data that prove Goldston’s success with students shows that over 75% of her students met or exceeded expectations in math and reading. She reflects that there is always room for improvement, and she is constantly seeking opportunities to master the art of teaching to reach 100% of her students.
In the 5-8 Grade: Lisa Webb
Webb has been teaching sixth grade Social Studies at Jefferson Middle School for 24 years. During this time, she has custom built an extensive One Note notebook with articles, stories, videos, maps, worksheets, quizzes, and online activities that she has collected from various sources, continually keeping the source material updated and relevant. Student feedback has allowed her to refine the notebook and unify the learning, which is all tied to state standards. Webb believes the data is the best evidence of her contribution to student success. In 34 of the 36 standards tested on the TN Ready assessment, her students maintained a double-digit advantage over the state average. Jefferson 6th grade outscored the state on every Social Studies standard.
In the 9-12 Grade: Elizabeth Barry
Barry has been teaching high school French for over 18 years in Oak Ridge, and 28 years overall. During this time, she has been involved with several initiatives that allow students to travel to French-speaking countries for immersion in the language and culture, and increasing their global awareness, open-mindedness, and acceptance of students who are different from themselves. Barry believes that the emails, letters, and visits from former students provide testimony to her contribution to student success. She provided several examples of statements from former students who wrote or came by to thank her for teaching them French and how beneficial that learning has been in college and career endeavors
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The Oak Ridge Teacher Assistants of the Year
Elementary: Lisa LaBuy
LaBuy has been in her current position at Woodland Elementary School for nine years as a full-time special education teaching assistant. She has 16 years of experience in Oak Ridge Schools. Students at Woodland are making great progress due to Lisa’s willingness to go above and beyond in all areas. An example of her dedication to serve students is that when teachers, but not assistants, were provided training for a new “Sounds First” reading curriculum, she took the initiative to view instructional videos and read manuals to learn how to implement the strategies. She came to school during breaks and on her days off to assist with printing and putting together the curriculum and learning how to use it, specifically with special education students who have learning and reading disabilities.
Secondary: Searcy New
Searcy has been in her current position as a special education teaching assistant at Robertsville Middle School for her full 35 years in Oak Ridge. Students at Robertsville experience success due to New’s dedication every day. A great example is that when many students were struggling to keep up with assignments after a year of online learning, Searcy recommended using Wednesday afternoons to host sessions in the cafeteria called “Café’ Catch-Up,” which is staffed by teacher assistants from 12:45-2:45 and serves 20-40 students.
The Oak Ridge Principal of the Year is: Jenifer Laurendine
Laurendine is in her second year as principal at Willow Brook Elementary School. She has been with Oak Ridge Schools for nine years, serving most recently as the vice principal of Jefferson Middle School (JMS). Previously she held positions of districtwide coordinator of school health and as JMS dean of students. She is certified in Youth Mental Health First Aid and has served with Active Anderson Healthier TN Community, Anderson County Health Council, ASAP of Anderson, Oak Ridge High School ASAP Youth Ambassadors, Prevent Child Abuse Tennessee (PCAT), and the East Region Tennessee School Health Coalition. Students at Willow Brook continually benefit from her “can-do” attitude, encouraging staff, students, and families to give their all to ensure academic and life success. hool Health Coalition. Students at Willow Brook continually benefit from her “can-do” attitude, encouraging staff, students, and families to give their all to ensure academic and life success. The state report card shows that Laurendine has been instrumental in increasing Willow Brook students’ success rates up by 11% since 2019.
This article originally appeared on Oakridger: Teachers, assistants and principal of the year named in Oak Ridge Schools
