DeKalb School District Names “Teachers of the Year”

January 18, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

Director of Schools Patrick Cripps has announced the 2021-22 Teachers of the Year at the building level of the five schools in the county.

This year’s honorees chosen by their peers are kindergarten teacher Cristy Spears at Smithville Elementary School; 5th grade math and science teacher Sarah Storey at Northside Elementary School; Amanda Mullinax, library and media specialist at DeKalb West School; Teresa Jones, a seventh grade math teacher at DeKalb Middle School; and Gary Caplinger, a CTE residential and commercial construction teacher at DeKalb County High School.

Mullinax has completed 20 years of teaching, Jones 19 years, Spears and Storey have completed 4 years, and Caplinger is completing his 10th year as an educator.

“Our district’s Teacher of the Year program recognizes and honors outstanding teachers in DeKalb County. We applaud teachers who care about our children, who devote their professional lives to enriching the lives of DeKalb students, and who demonstrate exceptional gains in student achievement. We are not just exceptionally proud of our Teachers of the Year, but we are also grateful for all of our educators in DeKalb County,” said Director Cripps.

According to Michelle Burklow, Supervisor of Instruction, “Competition for the district-wide John Isabell Teacher of the Year award continues through February and will be announced this spring. Additionally, a DeKalb County teacher will be chosen by a committee to compete at the regional level in March, and if selected the teacher will represent DeKalb County at the state level competition.”
Teachers of the Year are selected competitively through five cycles: Building, System, Field Service Core Center Region, Grand Division and State; and from three categories (levels of teaching); Grades Pre K-4, 5-8, 9-12.

Teachers selected at each cycle receive local recognition and awards underwritten by local sources. State recognition/awards include a banquet honoring the nine State Teacher of the Year finalists and certificates of appreciation from the governor. In addition, the State Finalists and the State Teacher of the Year receive cash awards.

Dr. Kathy Bryant, Supervisor of Instruction, concludes, “The Tennessee Teacher of the Year Program is designed to promote effective teaching practices by recognizing and rewarding outstanding teachers while encouraging others to join the teaching profession.”

January 18, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

Two men have been charged in separate cases of aggravated assault resulting from domestic disputes during which they allegedly pointed weapons at their female victims.

21-year-old Stephen Charles Clark of Backbone Road, Sparta is charged with aggravated assault. His bond is $10,000 and he will be in court January 27 while 58-year-old Charles Glen Lewis of Medley Amonette Road, Buffalo Valley is charged with aggravated assault. His bond is $7,500 and he will make a court appearance January 27.

In the case against Clark, Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on January 7 a deputy was called to a residence on Backbone Road due to a report of domestic violence. Upon arrival the officer spoke with a woman who said that Clark had struck her on the face and other parts of her body and pointed a gun at her. A .22 caliber revolver was found on the scene.

As for Lewis, Sheriff Ray said that on January 12 a deputy was dispatched to a residence on Medley Amonette Road due to a domestic incident involving a firearm. Upon arrival the officer spoke with a woman who said that she and her husband, Lewis got into an argument which led to Lewis going into the bedroom and grabbing a firearm before returning and pointing the weapon at her stating he would “end this”. Lewis admitted to the deputy that he had pointed a Springfield Hellcat 9-millimeter pistol at her causing the woman to fear imminent danger.

In other cases, 53-year-old Elwood Lamar Benefield of Acworth, Georgia is charged with being a fugitive from justice. His bond is $75,000 and he will make a court appearance January 20.

Sheriff Ray said that on January 4 a deputy arrested Benefield locally on a felony violation of probation warrant out of Bartow County, Georgia. He was determined to be trying to flee from justice to keep from being prosecuted.

25-year-old Bobby Ray Murphy of Dale Ridge Road, Dowelltown is charged with fraudulent use of a credit card. His bond is 3,500 and he will make a court appearance January 20.

Sheriff Ray said that on December 6 Murphy used someone else’s credit/debit card without consent from November 24 to December 6 totaling $732.34. The card was taken from a residence on Dale Ridge Road.

January 18, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

A pedestrian was struck and injured by a motorist in the parking lot of DeKalb Middle School Sunday night around 10:40 p.m.

Trooper Bobby Johnson of the Tennessee Highway Patrol said 20-year-old Elijah Hall of Smithville was doing donuts in a 2006 Chevrolet Silverado in the iced over parking lot when he struck 27-year-old Jackson Cripps of Smithville with the driver side rear of his vehicle knocking Cripps to the pavement. Cripps was transported by ground ambulance to Vanderbilt Hospital. Hall was issued a citation for reckless driving.

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