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Tag: Teacher Of The Year

Wilson County Teacher Of The Year 2025

For the 27th consecutive year, Wilson County Motors and CedarStone Bank are proud to honor the exceptional educators of Wilson County. These dedicated teachers invest countless hours into shaping the future, developing innovative teaching methods and philosophies that will continue to positively impact our community for years to come.

Teachers from both public and private schools throughout Wilson County were nominated by their peers as the “Teacher of the Year” at each respective school. On January 3, 2025, a special reception was held to recognize these outstanding educators, with past award winners also in attendance. A distinguished panel of faculty from Cumberland University’s Education Department will review the applications and select the overall winner of the 2025 Wilson County Teacher of the Year. The recipient will be announced at the upcoming awards banquet.

W.P. Bone, III, of Wilson County Motors, shared, “We recognize the profound and lasting impact that teachers have on our children’s lives. It is vital that we acknowledge their unwavering dedication and the tremendous contributions they make to our community. The Teacher of the Year Program is our way of expressing the appreciation they truly deserve.

Bob McDonald, President and CEO of CedarStone Bank, added, “I often reflect on the invaluable life lessons I learned from my teachers. Their dedication, patience, and hard work are crucial in preparing our future leaders and sustaining a thriving community. It’s an honor to see our incredible teachers celebrated and recognized for their hard work at the banquet.

The winner will be announced following the keynote address by Dr. Paul Stumb, President of Cumberland University. Each teacher will receive a plaque to commemorate their achievement, and the overall Teacher of the Year will be awarded a personal check for $3,000, along with a $1,000 check for their school.

The 2025 Teacher of the Year Banquet will take place at Cumberland University’s Baird Chapel on Friday, April 4, 2025. The following teachers will be honored at this prestigious event:

  • Leslie Tomlinson – Barry Tatum Academy
  • Dalton Teel – Byars-Dowdy Elementary School
  • Jonathan Stricklin – Carroll-Oakland Elementary School
  • Jessica Brooke Lipshie – Castle Heights Elementary School
  • Ashley Arledge – Coles Ferry Elementary School
  • Julie T. Smith – Elzie D. Patton Elementary School
  • Ashley Broomfield – Friendship Christian School
  • Kala Ealy – Gladeville Elementary School
  • Jennifer Bamford – Gladeville Middle School
  • Melissa Prince – Green Hill High School
  • Jamie Wallmark – Jones Brummett Elementary School
  • Melissa Cole – Lakeview Elementary School
  • Allen Davis – Lebanon High School
  • Erin Clark – Mt. Juliet Christian Academy
  • Elizabeth Elgin – Mt. Juliet Elementary School
  • Sergeant Major Jonathan Clark – Mt. Juliet High School
  • Brittney Osburne – Mt Juliet Middle School
  • Rachael Agnew – Rutland Elementary School
  • Vicki Davis – Sam Houston Elementary School
  • Ashlee Sexton – Southside Elementary School
  • Charisse Carter – Springdale Elementary School
  • Kimberly McPeak – Stoner Creek Elementary School
  • Erica Douglass – Tuckers Crossroads Elementary School
  • April Downing – W.A. Wright Elementary School
  • Kristina L. Hobbs – Walter J. Baird Middle School
  • Mrs. Tammy Tucker – Watertown Elementary School
  • Paige Allmond – Watertown High School
  • Kimberly Stone – Watertown Middle School
  • Jennifer Crockett – West Elementary School
  • Tara Palmer – West Wilson Middle School
  • Jessica Agee – Wilson Central High School
  • Amy Richards – Wilson County Adult High School
  • Sarah Savannah Howard – Winfree Bryant Middle School

Pictured left to right are Bob McDonald, President & CEO of CedarStone Bank, 2025 Teacher of the Year Nominees, & and W.P. Bone, Owner of Wilson County Motors. 

2018‐19 Wilson County Teacher of the Year

CSB TOTY 2019 photo

Congratulations to Derek Southworth of Lebanon High School!

Cedarstone Bank has been proud to co-sponsor the Wilson County Teacher of the Year celebration and to support education in Wilson County. Derek Southworth, an 11th grade U.S. history teacher at Lebanon High School, was recognized alongside 28 of his colleagues for their excellence in teaching. Congratulations to all involved!

21st Anniversary Wilson County Teacher Of The Year

CedarStone Bank Teacher of the Year Press Release WEB

 Wilson County Motors and CedarStone Bank are proud to announce the 21st Annual Wilson County Teacher of the Year program. Since 1998, these two companies have partnered to celebrate teachers and teaching. The program began its development in 1996 when W.P. Bone and Bob McDonald came up with the idea as a way to recognize one of the community’s most important and treasured assets – its teachers.  Bone and McDonald organized a focus group of individuals in the county representing leaders in business, government, civic and education, to assist in the process and criteria. After two years of planning and preparation, the program commenced and has been running for twenty-one consecutive years.

Each year, a teacher in each school in the county, public and private, is selected from his/her peers as its teacher of the year.  Those teachers complete a packet that details their experience, teaching philosophy and community involvement. Those packets are then delivered to Cumberland University where a panel of education faculty chooses one of the teachers as the Wilson County Teacher of the Year.  A banquet is then held where each teacher of the year and his/her guest, business, community leaders come together to pay tribute to the teachers.

The winner is announced at the completion of the keynote address by university president Dr. Paul Stumb. Each teacher is presented a plaque recognizing their accomplishment. And the overall winner is presented with a personal check in the amount of $1,500, and a check for their school in the amount of $500. This year’s banquet is scheduled for Friday, April 5, 2019.

“I understand the important role that teachers play in the lives of our young people and they make a lasting impact.  It is important that they are recognized and saluted for their commitment”, said W.P. Bone.  Bob McDonald continued, “teaching has always been a challenging profession, and it is more today than ever.  It is a real delight to see these teachers enjoy being applauded and honored on the night of the banquet.”

Those teachers who will be honored at the banquet on April 5 are:

Connie Canham – Byars-Dowdy Elementary School
Stephanie Porter – Carroll-Oakland Elementary School
Page Henley – Castle Heights Elementary School
Elysia Stover – Coles Ferry Elementary School
Angela Lewis – Elzie D. Patton Elementary School
Lisa Espenshade – Friendship Christian School
Laurie Guethlein – Gladeville Elementary School
Kari Ferrell – Lakeview Elementary School
Derek Southworth – Lebanon High School
Maranda Nave – MAP Academy
Bethany J. Davis – Mt. Juliet Christian Academy
Alexis Swierc – Mt. Juliet Elementary School
Enna Y. Vela – Mt. Juliet High School
Lauren Gribble – Mt Juliet Middle School
Nicole Williams – Rutland Elementary School
Alyson Atchley – Sam Houston Elementary School
Meredith Burke – Southside Elementary School
Brooke M. Carr – Springdale Elementary School
Rob Ruslavage – Stoner Creek Elementary School
Andi Kumpf – Tuckers Crossroads Elementary School
Julie Davenport – W.A. Wright Elementary School
Judy Metcalf – Walter J. Baird Middle School
Lauren Conatser – Watertown Elementary School
Shanna Leasure – Watertown High School
Shannon Queen – Watertown Middle School
Chelsea Sharpe – West Elementary School
Sherry Tiner – West Wilson Middle School
Richard R. Lewis – Wilson Central High School
April Kring – Winfree Bryant Middle School
 

Pictured are Bob McDonald, President & CEO of CedarStone Bank and W.P. Bone, Owner of Wilson County Motors.

Tracy Brown: 2017-18 Wilson County Teacher of the Year

Tracy Brown 2017-18 Wilson County Teacher of the Year Tracy Brown 2017-18 Wilson County Teacher of the Year Pictured from left is Mrs. Susan McDonald, CedarStone Bank President & CEO Bob McDonald. ESL Teacher Tracy Brown & W.P. Bone, III of Wilson County

For 20 years now, CedarStone Bank has been proud to co-sponsor the Wilson County Teacher of the Year celebration and to support education in Wilson County. Tracy Brown, an English as a Second Language Teacher at Mt. Juliet Elementary School, was recognized alongside 31 of her colleagues for their excellence in teaching. Congratulations to everyone involved!

 

Congratulations Kali Meyer Holder, Wilson County Teacher of the Year!

Congrats Kali Meyer Holder Wilson County Teacher of the Year

Congrats to Kali Meyer Holder, 7th grade math teacher at Walter J. Baird Middle School for being selected as the 2014-15 Wilson County Teacher of the Year. CedarStone Bank employees gathered to congratulate her soon after the award presentation Friday night at Cumberland University.

Picture above with Kali (from left) John B. Bryan, Debbie Whited, Robert McDonald and Bob McDonald. The Teacher of the Year program was started some 18 years ago by CedarStone Bank president Bob McDonald and W.P. Bone III, owner of Wilson County Motors.