March 7, 2023
By: Dwayne Page
The 2023 DeKalb County School District Teacher of the Year is Lesa Hayes, a CTE Teaching as a Profession, Human Studies and Business teacher at DeKalb County High School.
Hayes got a surprise visit to her classroom Tuesday for the “John Isabell Memorial Award” presentation by Director of Schools Patrick Cripps, DCHS Principal Bruce Curtis, Assistant Principals Jenny Norris and Thomas Cagle, and Supervisors of Instruction Michelle Burklow and Dr. Kathy Bryant. As part of the honor, Hayes also received a school bell award, a floral arrangement, and a certificate granting her a day off from school with pay.
In addition to the visit to Hayes, Director Cripps and school administrators paid a call on four other teachers at their schools Tuesday to present the school level “Teacher of the Year awards including Special Education Pre-K teacher, Sydney Johnson at Smithville Elementary School; Positive Behavior Interventionist and Lead District Positive Behavior Support Interventionist, Meagan Humbert at Northside Elementary School; Rachel Desimone, 5th grade teacher and Instructional Coach at DeKalb West School; and Sarah Jacobs, an 8th grade ELA teacher at DeKalb Middle School.
This is the 16th annual Teacher of the Year observance.
Hayes, whose duties include teaching as a profession, family studies, and human studies said she is excited to have been named both the DCHS Teacher of the year and the Overall DeKalb County School District Level Teacher of the Year.
“I am very honored and humbled that I have been chosen for this and the fact that I work with so many great teachers. I have grown to love this school as well as the kids here,” said Hayes.
Altogether Hayes has been a teacher for almost three decades. In the local school system, she was at DeKalb West School for about 13 years followed by a stint at DeKalb Middle School for five years before moving to DCHS four years ago. Prior to her years in the DeKalb County School District, Hayes taught in Wilson County for a private company that contracted with the Department of Labor to train adults for re-entry into the workforce. Before becoming a teacher, Hayes worked in banking and then took a job at DeKalb West working in the office. “I had my teaching degree but there was not a position open at that time, so I started working part-time in the office and part time in adult education. When a computer position came open at DeKalb West is when I moved into the classroom,” said Hayes.
“Ms Hayes is a wonderful teacher. She is very dedicated to her students and to the faculty and staff here. She is always willing to help out and do anything she can even with the afterschool program. It’s a pleasure to have her here at DCHS,” said Principal Bruce Curtis.
The other principals were equally as proud of their school-level teachers of the year.
“Ms. Jacobs was chosen as DeKalb Middle Schools’ teacher of the year by her colleagues and peers,” said DMS Principal Caleb Shehane. “She received her bachelor’s degree in communication from Tennessee Tech and her master’s degree in teaching from Cumberland University. She is currently in her 6th year as an ELA teacher. Ms. Jacobs truly puts students first. She provides high-quality instruction while building positive, meaningful relationships with her students. If not in the classroom, you can find Ms. Jacobs on the softball field as head coach of Lady Saints softball. She is a true asset to our DeKalb Middle School family, and we are happy to honor her,” said Shehane.
“Ms. Meagan Humbert came to us in 2019 and has since made a tremendous impact on our school and district,” said Northside Elementary School Principal Karen Knowles. “She brought with her extensive knowledge and experience that has supported our school climate and student success in all aspects of their education. I truly feel blessed to work with Ms. Humbert and was extremely pleased to see that Ms. Humbert was selected at NES by her peers as Teacher of the Year,” said Knowles.
“Congratulations to Mrs. Desimone for being selected Teacher of the Year by her peers for DeKalb West School,” said DWS Principal Sabrina Farler. “It is very much deserved. All her effort and hard work have resulted in this achievement. Her way of teaching and managing her classes and the strategies she applies to teach her students allow the opportunity for students in her classes to academically grow. What an amazingly positive impact you have made on the teaching profession. Well done Mrs. Desimone and congratulations on being named DWS Teacher of the Year,” said Farler.
“Mrs. Sydney Johnson, Smithville Elementary School Teacher of the Year, is a Pre-K teacher in the Special Education Department and has been employed as a teacher in DeKalb County Schools since 2014,” said SES Principal Summer Cantrell. “She is a valued member of the SES faculty who brings positivity and encouragement to the students, families, and colleagues of Smithville Elementary School. Mrs. Sydney’s passion for teaching revolves around meeting the needs of the whole child, while creating an engaging and creative learning environment for all students. As an Early Childhood teacher, her dedication to the teaching profession helps to create lifelong opportunities for individual success for her students,” said Cantrell.
“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.
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.”