By MEALAND RAGLAND-HUDGINS
Rutherford County Schools
June 4, 2024
The Tennessee Department of Education has launched an award designed to celebrate and recognize the high quality of the state’s newest teachers.
For Rutherford County Schools, Abby Haley of Brown’s Chapel Elementary, Sierra Perry of Smyrna Middle and Alexa Norsby of Smyrna High were selected as the inaugural recipients of the district’s Novice Teacher of the Year award for their respective grade bands.
Candidates for the Novice Teacher of the Year must:
- Be a full-time, certified, in good standing, pre-K–12 teacher in a state-accredited public or charter school in Tennessee at each stage of the recognition process (school, district, region, grand division, state, and national levels),
- Spend the majority of the school day in direct instruction to students,
Have completed more than 10 months and less than 30 months in Tennessee public or charter school classroom, and, - Be responsible for the assessment of students, assignment of grades, preparation of lesson plans, parent-teacher conferences, discipline, attendance, and other daily educational tasks.
Novice Teacher of the Year recipients from each of Tennessee’s eight educational regions and major municipal districts will be recognized at the Educators of Excellence event to be held in Nashville in August.
Dr. Kelly Chastain, RCS chief academic officer, recognized Haley, Perry and Norsby at the May 23 Board of Education meeting.
Nominees went through a rigorous application process, including a recommendation from their principal, personal essay and several other criteria, Chastain said. Applications were judged in a blind selection process.
Chastain provided details about each winner.
Abby Haley: “She has always felt the call to teach and pour into children Establishing strong relationships and connecting all learners so each student feels successful and confident is a goal Abby has each year,” Chastain said. “Abby says ‘Being a new teacher comes with its challenges but I’d rather be challenged than become complacent with my work and zeal for this calling.”
Haley recently completed her third year as a third grade teacher at Brown’s Chapel Elementary.
Sierra Perry: “She is influenced by her high school ancient history teacher and rugby coach who inspired her by always being present, passionate engaging and full of hope for all students,” Chastain said. “She demonstrates these same qualities and celebrates the differences in every child she encounters. Ms. Perry wants her students to regard history with respect and to investigate those connections.”
Perry recently completed her second year as a U.S. History teacher at Smyrna Middle.
Alexa Norsby: “As cliché as it sounds, I pursued teaching because of the educators before me because they saved my life in more ways than one,” Norsby wrote in her essay. “Now I have the privilege of reciprocating those relationships by forming my own thoughtful relationships with my students, always remembering that learning will not and cannot happen in the classroom unless the teacher creates a place for the student to feel safe and seen.”
Norsby began teaching English at Smyrna High in January 2023.
PHOTO: Rutherford County Schools recently recognized its Novice Teachers of the Year. Pictured, from left, are RCS Secondary Coordinator Dr. Dawn Poole and Smyrna High teacher Alexa Norsby, Smyrna Middle teacher Sierra Perry and Middle Level Coordinator Barbara Powers and Elementary Coordinator Ann Haley and Brown's Chapel Elemenary teacher Abby Haley. (James Evans/Rutherford County Schools)