Kingsport City Schools math teacher Bryan Kerns is this year’s Tennessee Teacher of the Year

Aug 26

Bryan Kerns (Photo by Kingsport City Schools)

The Tennessee Department of Education announced Kingsport City Schools teacher Bryan Kerns as the 2024-25 Tennessee Teacher of the Year Friday night at the 2024 Excellence in Education 65th Sapphire Anniversary Celebration.

Kerns is a fire management and math instructor at Dobyns-Bennett High School in Kingsport where he helped develop the Dobyns-Bennett Fire Program. The program has guided more than 30 students into careers in the fire and emergency services industry.

Kerns also serves as the president-elect of the Bays Mountain Park Association Board and is the Southern Blue Ridge Fire Learning Network Landscape Lead for the Unaka and Great Smokey Mountains Escarpment.

In a news release the department describes Kerns as a leader, mentor, and advocate in his school and community.

“Congratulations to all the educators who were honored at the 65th Sapphire Anniversary Celebration of the Teacher of the Year award, and I am especially excited to welcome Bryan Kerns as the 2024-25 Tennessee Teacher of the Year,” said Education Commissioner Lizzette Reynolds. “For the past 65 years, our state has recognized awardees for serving as models on how to support and develop students for future success that goes beyond the classroom, and we look forward to continuing to elevate and honor our outstanding educators for years to come.”

2023/2024 Tennessee Teacher of the year Missy Testerman (Photo by TDOE)

Kerns will represent Tennessee in the National Teacher of the Year competition and serve as an ambassador for education throughout the state for the 2024-25 school year. He succeeds 2023-24 Tennessee Teacher of the Year and 2024 National Teacher of the Year Missy Testerman who’s an English second language (ESL) teacher at Rogersville Elementary School in Rogersville City School.

In her role as Teacher of the Year, Testerman served on the working group that helped craft Tennessee’s School Letter Grades.

“Tennessee teachers continue to raise the bar as they serve and inspire the students they teach. Bryan is a shining example of the amazing teachers that we have in our state,” said Testerman. “I am so honored to congratulate Bryan Kerns as the next Teacher of the Year. He will have an amazing opportunity to represent our Tennessee educators, families, and students. I commend his commitment to moving our state forward by helping to create an educational system that ensures that all Tennessee students succeed and are prepared for postsecondary education and the workforce. On behalf of all Tennessee educators, I offer my best wishes to Mr. Kerns for a fulfilling year of service as the 2024-25 Tennessee Teacher of the Year.”

The Tennessee Department of Education also recognized finalists named Teacher of the Year for the three grand divisions of the state.

The department named Natalee Elkins, Holston Middle School choral in Knox County Schools, as the grand division winner for East Tennessee. Kaity Castleman, fourth-grade teacher at Hickory Creek Elementary School in Warren County Schools, is the grand division winner for Middle Tennessee and Jenny Kiesel, biology and AP environmental science teacher at Lakeland Preparatory School in Lakeland School System, is the grand division winner for West Tennessee.

To qualify for Tennessee Teacher of the Year, candidates must have been teaching full-time for at least three years, have a track record of exceptional gains in student learning, and be effective school and community leaders. Districts were able to nominate one educator from each grade band. A statewide selection committee selected 27 regional semi-finalists from more than 260 applications. Nine were selected from this group.

All nine finalists will also serve on the department’s Teacher Advisory Council for the duration of the 2024-25 school year. This council acts as a working group of expert teachers to provide feedback and inform the work of the department throughout the school year.

The department also announced the inaugural ten Novice Tennessee Teacher of the Year Awardees.