The Tennessee Department of Education has recently revealed the recipients of the Novice Tennessee Teacher of the Year award. Notably, three of the 10 educators honored statewide are proud alumni of the Lee University Helen DeVos College of Education.

The Novice Tennessee Teacher of the Year Award made its inaugural debut this year and aims to celebrate and recognize excellent teachers across the state early in their careers.

The three Lee alumni recognized for this honor are Kari Ormsby Mays, Lindsey Scott, and Jordan Wagers.  

“All of us here in the Helen DeVos College of Education are thrilled to see three of our recent graduates recognized as three of the best young teachers across the entire state, and it is not lost on us that all three are in mathematics,” said Dr. Bill Estes, dean of the College of Education and professor of education. “Dr. Laura Singletary and our Secondary Mathematics Program annually turn out exceptional teachers in a traditionally high-need area. We are also thrilled to see all three of these alumni serving in local school districts. We could not do our work without the assistance of the local public schools and all the professionals that pour into our teacher candidates. This recognition has certainly encouraged our work as we continue to prepare young people for one of life’s greatest callings.”   

Mays, an Algebra 1 and film studies teacher at East Ridge High School, graduated from Lee in 2022 with a Master of Arts in Teaching in mathematics education 6-12.  

“I am so incredibly honored to be recognized as one of Tennessee’s Ten Novice Teachers of the Year,” said Mays. “The MAT program at Lee University equipped me with the skills necessary to be successful in the classroom while also emphasizing the importance of compassion when working with students.” 

Scott, a middle grades mathematics major from the class of 2021, currently teaches 6th grade mathematics at Cleveland Middle School.  

“I am honored to have received this recognition alongside so many dedicated educators, including other Lee University alumni,” said Scott. “It is a deep joy to be a part of forming the hearts and minds of my students, and I am grateful for the ways that my years at Lee continue to shape and inform my teaching.”  

Wagers, a 2022 mathematics education graduate, teaches Algebra 2 at Cleveland High School.  

“It is because of the leadership and guidance of my professors at Lee University, and my mentor teachers, that I was able to excel in my teaching career,” said Wagers. “I am forever thankful for their impact on my teaching practices and perspective, and I am extremely grateful to be recognized as one of Tennessee’s Ten Novice Teachers of the Year.”

Mays, Scott, and Wagers, along with the other awardees, were honored at the 65th Sapphire Anniversary Celebration of the Teacher of the Year Award, a ceremony held on August 23 to recognize the hard work and dedication of Tennessee educators. 

“Seeing our graduates honored with this prestigious award from the Tennessee Department of Education is truly inspiring,” said Singletary, professor of mathematics at Lee. “Their dedication to their students and their innovative approaches to teaching are making a profound difference in the lives of young learners and enriching the surrounding communities. This recognition is a powerful reminder of the impact that passionate and committed educators can have on shaping brighter futures. It is an honor to work with such talented prospective and practicing educators on a daily basis at Lee who clearly exemplify that teaching students is their calling, and that they want to make a change for the better in the world one student at a time.”

For more information about the Tennessee Department of Education or its announcement of these awards, visit tn.gov/education.