February 13, 2017
By KEITH RYAN CARTWRIGHT
Rutherford County Schools
When Eagleville principal Bill Tollett said he wanted to meet with Candace Adams, the well-known music teacher was unsure why.
Adams has been teaching for 17 years at Eagleville School.
She sent a short text to her husband Elijah, who is also a teacher.
Not only was Adams unsure of Tollett’s unplanned classroom visit, but she was also bewildered by the fact that he was bringing Lisa Bogle, elementary school coordinator for Rutherford County Schools, along with him.
“I thought it was odd,” recalled Adams, who said Tollett told her, “We’ll come to you instead of you coming to me.”
Tollett and Bogle walked in with flowers.
They surprised Adams, who had recently been named Teacher of the Year at Eagleville, with news that she had been selected as the districtwide elementary Teacher of the Year and would be representing Rutherford County in a statewide competition for the same honor.
This year’s RCS Teacher of the Year banquet will take place March 15 from 3:30 – 5:30 p.m. at the Embassy Suites, in Murfreesboro.
“(Bogle) had to tell me twice,” Adams said. “I didn’t quite believe what she had said. I was completely shocked so it was very surprising to me. I was just very surprised.”
Adams was one of three districtwide selections made by Rutherford County Schools.
Steven Jones was selected as the middle school-level Teacher of the Year, while Andrea S. Holder was selected as the high school-level Teacher of the Year.
Jones teaches at Siegel Middle School.
Holder teaches at Blackman High School.
“It’s an honor,” Holder said. “It’s flattering, but what it makes me think of is that I work with a ton of really fantastic teachers. They all work hard all day, every day and they all care about … their kids’ future so to be nominated and then voted for and then selected as a representative of all these other teachers that do amazingly hard work and to be noticed as one of them, it’s really honoring.”
In addition to teaching sophomore English, Holder teaches public speaking. This year she also took on two new roles. She is an administrative dean and also the student counsel sponsor.
Holder said the additional responsibilities have been hard work, but she’s learned a lot in the process.
“It’s a good thought to think you’ve been doing something for 10 years,” Holder said, “but still learn something.”
She also said the recognition is “affirming.”
Jones agreed.
“It’s nice to get the affirmation,” he said.
Jones added the “real recognition” comes in the classroom from students and past students, who reach out years later. Jones said, “They’re reaffirming what you hope to pass on to them and sharing that love of learning.”
Holder, who began her teaching career in Mississippi, said a former student recently friended her on Facebook and sent along a private message telling Holder how impactful her class had been on his life. Holder remembered the class as a “tough group” who had all previously failed the same course a year earlier.
She said the message was a reminder that teachers might not always realize the impact they’re having.
Adams agreed.
“What we do really matters to these kids,” Adams said.
Jones added, “Teaching is (something) you can do for 100 years and every day is new and presents new challenges and has new opportunities for growth – as a person and as a teacher.”
He further explained that knowledge in a subject area is “pretty insignificant” if you don’t connect with students as people.
The following is a complete listing of the Teachers of the Year from all 46 schools in the district.
Elizabeth Baker Ramsey, Barfield Elementary
Andrew Frye, Blackman Elementary
Andrea S. Holder, Blackman High
David England, Blackman Middle
Amanda Henry, Brown’s Chapel Elementary
Jessica Birkofer, Buchanan Elementary
Michelle Florida, Cedar Grove Elementary
Jodie Quinn, Central Magnet
Renay Anderson, Christiana Elementary
Kevin Finn, Christiana Middle
Mariah Phillips, Daniel-McKee Alternative
Debbie Reyes, David Youree Elementary
Candace Adams, Eagleville
Monica Malone, Holloway High
Melissa Hudspeth Flowers, Homer Pittard Campus
Adowa Taylor, John Colemon Elementary
J’Lynn Bennett, Kitrell Elementary
Beth Wright, Lacassas Elementary
Autumn Shands, LaVergne High
Cressa Glenn, LaVergne Lake Elementary
Jennifer Kinsman, LaVergne Middle
Tiffany Staggs, LaVergne Primary
Jenifer Burns, McFadden School of Excellence
Vicki Hawk, Oakland High
Majorie Sudberry, Oakland Middle
Tyler Bowman, Riverdale High
Molly Ostman, Rock Spring Elementary
Dustin Brannon, Rock Springs Middle
Melanie Ralston, Rockvale Elementary
Sara Sears, Rockvale Middle
Clara Kaplan, Roy Waldron Elementary
Christina Hurt, Siegel High
Steven Jones, Siegel Middle
Heather Wheeler, Smyrna Elementary
Ericka Coronado, Smyrna High
Lindsey Sutherland, Smyrna Middle
Angeline Rosa Restrepo Hale, Smyrna Primary
Andrew Krauss, Smyrna West Alternative
Bethany Trainer, Stewarts Creek Elementary
Cindy Mansfield, Stewarts Creek High
Stephanie Coltharp, Stewarts Creek Middle
Janet Mitchell, Stewartsboro Elementary
Sherrie Fair, Thurman Francis Arts Academy
Heather Eskridge, Walter Hill Elementary
Katie Freeland, Whitworth-Buchanan Middle
Angie Steagall, Wilson Elementary