DeKalb West School Teacher Amanda Mullinax Named 2022 DeKalb School District Teacher of the Year

April 13, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

The 2022 DeKalb County School District Teacher of the Year is Amanda Mullinax, a librarian and media specialist at DeKalb West School

Mullinax got a surprise visit to her classroom Tuesday for the “John Isabell Memorial Award” presentation by Director of Schools Patrick Cripps, DeKalb West School Principal Sabrina Farler, Assistant Principal Joey Agee, Supervisor of Instruction Michelle Burklow and Federal Programs Supervisor Dr. Danielle Collins. As part of the honor, Mullinax also received a school bell award, a floral arrangement, dinner gift card, and a certificate granting her a day off from school.

“I am very honored, overwhelmed, and blessed to be acknowledged for what I put into my job because of my students. I love what I do, and I love my students. I try to do the best for them each and every day and I think that is all anybody could be asked to do,” said Mullinax.

“Each year we select a Teacher of the Year from each school, but the “John Isabell Memorial Award” is for the whole district. Ms. Mullinax exemplifies what a teacher is. She loves her students, and they love her. She also has knowledge of the curriculum content and how to get that information across to her students. Ms. Mullinax is not only regarded highly by her students but by her peers as well,” said Director of Schools Patrick Cripps.

“Ms Mullinax shows the love and compassion for every student, every day and it shows in her work. She shows the heart of what a teacher should be and works over 100% every day in her job. She is an amazing lady, mother, spouse, and teacher and it shows in her walk every day,” added DeKalb West School Principal Sabrina Farler.

Mullinax, who is in her 21st year as a career teacher, was among five local educators who were recognized Tuesday for being chosen by peers as “Teacher of the Year” at their schools. The others were Kindergarten teacher Cristy Spears at Smithville Elementary School; 5th grade math and science teacher Sarah Storey at Northside Elementary 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.

In addition to the visit to Mullinax, Director Cripps and school administrators paid a call on the other four teachers at their schools Tuesday to present their school level “Teacher of the Year awards.

This is the 15th annual Teacher of the Year observance.

Mullinax came to DeKalb West School from the Smith County School District. Her first 11 years were in the classroom, and the past ten years she has served as the librarian at DWS. She has a bachelor’s degree in Multidisciplinary Studies (K-8), a master’s degree in Library Science, and an Education Specialist Degree in Reading from Tennessee Tech. She worked in the Tech Education Department library during her student teaching and assisted with the library at Union Heights Elementary School in Carthage, where she formerly taught.

Dr. Kathy Bryant, Supervisor of Instruction for Grades 6-12, said the School System Teacher of the Year can choose to compete at the District and Region level with hopes of vying for the state title.

“Teachers are first nominated and voted upon within each school for Teacher of the Year by their peers at the school level. Once a teacher is identified as Teacher of the Year he or she can apply to be District and Region Teacher of the Year and can go from there to the state. That consists of basically selling themselves and talking about everything they have done throughout their whole career to be deserving of Teacher of the Year. Its actually a lot of work. Sometimes we have teachers that do not wish to compete. They are very happy with being Teacher of the Year at their school. Regardless we are proud of our Teachers of the Year and would put them up against anybody but when they are able to compete regionally and at the state level that is big,” said Dr. Bryant.

April 12, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

A man who lied about being a member of the county fire department and rescue squad in order to gain access to the Johnson’s Chapel Recreation area where a body was found in the lake last Wednesday has been charged with criminal impersonation.

38-year-old Dustin Joseph Roberts of Old Smithville Highway, Silver Point is under a $4,500 bond and he will make a court appearance April 14.

Sheriff Patrick Ray said that on Wednesday, April 6 a deputy was called to Johnson’s Chapel Road where he blocked traffic to the boat ramp as investigators were on the scene of a body found floating in the lake. As the deputy was directing traffic only letting emergency personnel through, Roberts walked up to his patrol car stating he was with the fire department and rescue squad. The deputy asked if he was with the DeKalb County Fire Department. Roberts answered that he was a member of the Coffee County Fire Department. The deputy checked with the DeKalb County and Cannon County Fire Departments and learned that Roberts was not a current member with either department.

19-year-old Marshall Cody Hullett of Four Seasons Road, Smithville is charged with underage driving while impaired. His bond is $1,500 and he will make a court appearance June 30.

Sheriff Ray said that on April 7 a deputy was patrolling Sparta Highway when he spotted a red Pontiac in which the driver failed to use his turn signal while turning. The officer pulled over the car and spoke with the driver, Hullett who had a strong odor of alcohol on him, and his speech was slurred. Hullett admitted to having consumed four or five shots of liquor earlier in the night. Hullett submitted to but performed poorly on field sobriety tasks.

41-year-old Jason Michael Hull of Jamestown is charged with violation of an order of protection. He is under a $7,500 bond and his court date is April 21.

Sheriff Ray said that on April 7 a deputy was summoned to the area of Cookeville Highway due to a report of a rolling domestic near the bridge. While enroute, the officer spotted a vehicle matching the description and it appeared to him that the occupants were arguing. The deputy stopped the automobile and conducted a driver license check which revealed an active order of bond conditions against Hull originating in Sevier County to keep away from the person he was found with in the car.

43-year-old David Wayne Gaines of Snow Hill Road, Dowelltown is charged with evading arrest. His bond is $3,500 and he will make a court appearance April 28.

Sheriff Ray said that on April 9 a deputy went to West Main Street trying to locate Gaines on a failure to appear warrant to be held without bond. Upon arrival, the officer spotted Gaines standing in front of a shed. After Gaines saw the deputy he began to flee on foot through a field toward West Broad Street. Gaines was later found hiding in a bush beside a home on West Broad Street and then taken into custody.

37-year-old Vilot Mae Tucker of Antioch Road, Smithville is charged with domestic assault. Her bond is $3,500 and she will be in court April 28.

Sheriff Ray said that on April 10 a deputy responded to a domestic assault call at a residence on Antioch Road where he spoke to a man who said that his wife, Tucker became very angry with him during an argument and that she started hitting and throwing things at him. The man had marks on his face that appeared to be from the assault. Witnesses at the scene also confirmed the assault through written statements.

April 12, 2022
By: Dwayne Page

15-year-old Alex Lemons made his first appearance in DeKalb County Juvenile Court Monday.

The teen is charged in a juvenile petition with committing the delinquent act of first-degree murder and aggravated arson in the death of his father, 43-year-old Edward Lemons. The elder Lemons died in a fire at his home on December 7 at 5056 Jacobs Pillar Road, Smithville which his son is accused of setting.

The outcome of the hearing Monday has not been disclosed.

As is typical in juvenile court cases, the Lemons hearing was closed to the public, but in this case, Judge Bratten Cook, II also issued a gag order, upon an oral motion by attorneys, to prohibit all parties from making public statements, comments, or remarks respecting pending litigation in this case and that further proceedings in this matter be private and not open to the public and that all records held by the clerk not be made public.

After he was placed in custody at the Sheriff’s Department Thursday evening, the boy was taken to the Cookeville detention center pending the Monday hearing.

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