The DeKalb County School system has named its Teachers of the Year per grade category. The three teachers, Beth Cantrell of DeKalb West, Jane Watson of Smithville Elementary, and DCHS teacher Donna Emmons have received the nod to advance to regional competition in the Tennessee Teacher of the Year race.
Beth Cantrell will compete in the pre-k to fourth-grade category.
Jane Watson will represent DeKalb in grades 5-8
Donna Emmons will represent the local school system in grades 9-12.
Emmons is married to Lloyd Emmons, and has two sons, Scott, who is now serving in Afghanistan, and Tyler, who is a student at MTSU.
She teaches English I, journalism, and advises the student media program, Tiger Media.
Tiger Media includes the DCHS news paper The Eye of the Tiger.
Emmons is understandably proud of the media program at DCHS, citing the fine job the student volunteers in the program do in getting school news to  the public.
“I am very happy with the commitment this group has given,” Emmons told the Review. It is a volunteer program and these students give up their time after school to be a part of it.
“We are going to be doing two more issues this year,” Emmons continued, “one in March and one in May, and we have a website as well, but we are still working a few bugs out. We hope to have that up and running soon.”
Emmons spends a great deal of her personal time with the program as well.
“I tell my students that I stay here more than I stay at my home, so treat it like you would my home. Don’t put your feet on my furniture, and try to keep things clean.”
She also stresses that she learns a great deal from her students in the process of teaching.
“These are the people who keep me informed,” she said. “They let me know what is going on with media, music and fashion.”
The program operates with no budget other than advertising and donations.
“We are limited in selling ads because so few of the students can drive.” Emmons shared.
If you would like to donate or advertise with Tiger Media, you may call the high school at 597-4094 and ask for Mrs. Emmons, or she can be reached by e-mail at: demmons@k12tn.net.
The Tennessee Teacher of the Year Program is designed to promote recognition, respect and appreciation for teachers, to stimulate interest in teaching as a career and to encourage public involvement in education.
This program is sponsored annually by the Tennessee Department of Education and the Niswonger Foundation.
The Tennessee Teacher of the Year represents Tennessee at the National Teacher of the Year competition, which is sponsored by the Council of Chief State School Officers and Scholastic, Inc.
Selected teachers receive local recognition and awards underwritten by local sources.
State recognition/awards include a banquet honoring the nine State Teacher of the Year finalists and certificates of appreciation from the governor.
In addition, the state finalists and the State Teacher of the Year receive cash awards from the Niswonger Foundation.