March 24, 2019
By: Dwayne Page
A teacher from DeKalb County has advanced to the next round in the selection process for Tennessee Teacher of the Year.
Linda Parris, a Family and Consumer Science/Culinary Arts teacher at DCHS, is a region-level finalist in the category for 9th to 12th grade teachers.
The 22 year veteran educator at DCHS was named DeKalb County Teacher of the Year and received the John Isabell Award during a banquet March 5.
Nine region-level finalists are selected from each of the following grade divisions pre-K—4, 5—8, and 9—12. These teachers will move on in the selection process for region-level Teacher of the Year. Nine region-level Teachers of the Year will be selected, one from each of the eight CORE regions plus one from the districts within Shelby County. The region-level Teachers of the Year will then be finalists for Tennessee Teacher of the Year.
The Tennessee Teacher of the Year program seeks to recognize and honor outstanding teachers who devote themselves to their students and show gains in exceptional academic achievement.
As the Family and Consumer Science/Culinary Arts teacher, Parris oversees a program at DCHS in which students engage in lab-based, hands-on training in the art of cooking and hospitality management. They create new recipes, cater events in the local area, and bridge the gap between high school and postsecondary education by completing industry certifications.
Parris, this year’s DCHS Teacher of the Year, started her journey there as an educator 22 years ago. “This is my 22nd year at DCHS. The first 15 years I was a Home Economics/Family and Consumer Science Teacher. When former Family and Consumer Science teacher Harriett Cantrell retired she said I needed to get busy and obtain my culinary endorsement for those classes at the high school. I added that endorsement within a year and we moved to her room and we have transformed her room from a home kitchen to a commercial kitchen. That was seven years ago,” said Parris.
Under Parris’ leadership, the culinary arts and hospitality program at DCHS earned the school a “2016 Elite 50 Award” from Sullivan University, one of only three Tennessee schools to receive the honor that year. The Elite 50 list each year includes high schools and tech centers that excel in the areas of culinary arts, baking and pastry arts, and/or hospitality management.
She earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Tennessee Tech University and she has a Master’s degree from the University of Southern Mississippi. Parris also added her culinary arts endorsement from MTSU.
In addition to her teaching duties at DCHS, she serves as advisor for the Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) Club.
According to the Tennessee Department of Education website, the goals of the program include:
• Promoting effective teaching practices by recognizing and rewarding outstanding teachers
• Engaging regional teachers of the year in education policymaking through the Teacher Advisory Council
• Encouraging participation by every school in the state so that all Tennessee teachers may be recognized and rewarded
• Building a network of local and state corporate sponsors
• Providing a network for teachers to share effective practices
•Encouraging a sense of professionalism in teaching
•Encouraging greater participation in building a strong community-school partnership
The selection timeline for the Tennessee Teacher of the Year begins on the individual school level, with peers selecting a teacher from each of the following grade bands: PreK-fourth, fifth – eighth, and ninth – 12th. Local school district select teachers of the year from those bands. A total of 27 teachers were selected finalists at the regional level.
Nine teachers are chosen as Region-level winners and travel to Nashville, where all are recognized. Three grand division winners representing the east, middle, and west are announced, as well as the final winner of the Tennessee Teacher of the Year award. The final winner represents Tennessee in the national competition and serves as an ambassador for education throughout the year.
The Region-level winners are announced between May and June.