Kristen Robertson, a teacher at Signal Mountain Middle/High, is one of nine finalists for Tennessee Teacher of the Year. Robertson is a finalist from the Southeast region. Finalists will participate in an in-person interview at the Tennessee Department of Education in Nashville.
Kristin Robertson teaches ninth-grade English at Signal Mountain Middle High School, where she has been since 2013. She previously taught at Soddy Daisy High. Robertson serves as a personal project instructor to 25 students, working with them to complete their culminating personal project for the International Baccalaureate Middle Years program.
Robertson builds positive relationships with her students by attending sporting events and interacting with students in the community. Her classroom climate of high expectations encourages students to take academic risks and embrace challenges.
“Teachers who form relationships see the most authentic growth and learning because their students know that their teacher believes in them and wants to invest in their lives,” Robertson said. “I use the information I gain from forming relationships to invent fun activities that hook a student’s interest.”
Video of Robertson working in the classroom
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. 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 policy-making 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-4th, 5th – 8th, and 9th – 12th. Local school district select teachers of the year from those bands.
As one of the nine teachers chosen as a Region-level winner, Robertson will travel to Nashville, for a recognition. The event will also honor the three grand division winners from the east, middle, and west, as well as the final winner of the Tennessee Teacher of the Year award. The final winner will represent Tennessee in the national competition and serve as an ambassador for education throughout the year.