The Tennessee Department of Education (TDOE) announced Rogersville City School’s Melissa “Missy” Testerman as Tennessee’s 2023-24 teacher of the year Friday evening.
Testerman is an English as a second language instructor at Rogersville Elementary School who additionally serves as a mentor for new teachers and has been a teacher for 31 years. She’s also the president of the Rogersville Education Association, serves as the summer camp coordinator for the district, participates in the nonprofit Readers Are Leaders which helps at-risk readers, and serves on committees and boards throughout the district.
“Congratulations to all the educators honored at the Teacher of the Year celebration. Each awardee demonstrates excellence in education and serves as a model on how to support their students and communities. I am especially thrilled to congratulate Ms. Testerman as the Tennessee Teacher of the Year and look forward to working with her in the year to come,” said Tennessee Department of Education Commissioner of Education Lizzette Reynolds.
To qualify for Teacher of the Year, candidates must have been full-time teachers for at least three years, be effective school and community leaders, and have a track record of exceptional gains in student learning.
Local school districts can nominate one educator from each grade band for the award.
Districts submitted 260 applications and of those, a statewide selection committee named 27 regional semi-finalists. The department selected nine finalists from this group.
“It gives me great pleasure to congratulate Missy Testerman as the next Teacher of the Year. She will have an amazing opportunity to represent our Tennessee educators, families, and students. I commend her commitment to moving our state forward by helping to create an educational system that ensures best practices for all students. On behalf of all Tennessee educators, I extend our well-wishes and support throughout your upcoming year of service,” said last year’s Tennessee Teacher of the Year Dr. Melissa Collins. “It is an exciting time to be a teacher in Tennessee as we continue to teach, inspire, and motivate our students.”
TDOE also recognized finalists who were named Teacher of the Year for the three grand divisions of the state. Chattanooga High School Center for Creative Arts English language arts teacher Sandra Howard is the Teacher of the Year for East Tennessee, Franklin Elementary School fourth-grade teacher Sondra Wilson-Martin is Middle Tennessee’s Teacher of the Year, and South Haven Elementary eighth-grade teacher Marinda Hildenbrandt is Teacher of the Year for West Tennessee.
“The Tennessee Teacher of the Year exemplifies the very best of this noble calling, embodying unwavering dedication, creativity, and a passion for shaping and nurturing the minds of our future leaders. With every lesson taught, every question answered, and every encouraging word spoken, they ignite a spark of curiosity and foster a love for learning that transcends the classroom,” said Executive Director of Tennessee Organization of School Superintendents (TOSS) Dr. Dale Lynch.
The nine finalists will serve on TDOE’s Teacher Advisory Council, which acts as a working group of expert teachers to provide feedback and inform the work of the department throughout the school year, for the duration of the 2024-24 school year.
