State Partners

Tennessee

Tennessee joined the Milken Educator Awards program in 1992

75 recipients since program began in Tennessee

$1,875,000 awarded in Tennessee since program began

Lizzette Reynolds
Commissioner
Tennessee Department of Education
710 James Robertson Parkway
Nashville, TN 37243

Sarah Brown
Recognition and Communications Coordinator of Educator Effectiveness
Tennessee Department of Education, Office of Educator Effectiveness
710 James Robertson Parkway
Memphis, TN 38117

Tennessee Department of Education website

(Updated 1/21/26)

Tennessee Milken Educators

• Holly Logan
  Westwood Elementary School
  Manchester
  2025
• Stephanie Boshears
  Oneida Elementary School
  Oneida
  2024
• Abbey Kidwell
  Clinton Elementary School
  Clinton
  2023
• Alexa Guynes
  Dogwood Elementary School
  Germantown
  2022
• Raeven Brooks
  Black Fox Elementary
  Murfreesboro
  2021
• Tyler Hallstedt
  Mt. Juliet Middle School
  Mt.Juliet
  2021
• Nathan Kirsch
  Whitehaven High School
  Memphis
  2019
• Shelly Gaughan
  East End Preparatory School
  Nashville
  2018
• Erica Stephens
  John P. Freeman Optional School
  Memphis
  2018
• Paula Franklin
  West High School
  Knoxville
  2017
• Katherine Watkins
  Millington Central High School
  Millington
  2017
• Katie Picciuto
  Battle Academy
  Chattanooga
  2016
• Misty Ayres-Miranda
  Nashville School of the Arts
  Nashville
  2015
• Nicole Castile
  Norman Smith Elementary School
  Clarksville
  2014
• Kevin Winters
  Athens City Middle School
  Athens
  2013
• Bobi King
  Farragut Intermediate School
  Knoxville
  2012
• Meah King
  East High School
  Memphis
  2011
• Ashley Kear Miller
  Dogwood Elementary School
  Knoxville
  2010
• Matthew Marlatt
  Siegel High School
  Murfreesboro
  2009
• Dr. Trey Duke
  Stewarts Creek Elementary School
  Smyrna
  2008
• Dr. Jonathan Rysewyk
  Fulton High School
  Knoxville
  2007
• Reneé Borden
  A.B. Hill Elementary School
  Memphis
  2006
• Natalie McClarty
  Hardy Elementary School
  Chattanooga
  2006
• Lisa B. Light
  Lonsdale Elementary School
  Knoxville
  2006
• Dr. Nina Morel
  Hendersonville High School
  Hendersonville
  2005
• Michael S. Smith
  Coalfield School
  Coalfield
  2005
• Edna Miller
  Roan Creek Elementary School
  Mountain City
  2004
• Terri Kay Pike
  Dyersburg Intermediate School
  Dyersburg
  2004
• Tracy Hoilman
  Unicoi County High School
  Erwin
  2003
• Louis Gallo
  West High School
  Knoxville
  2003
• Karen D. White
  Cherokee Elementary School
  Johnson City
  2002
• Paula Cox
  Briarwood Middle School
  Camden
  2002
• Dr. Clifford Davis, Jr.
  Cedar Bluff Middle School
  Knoxville
  2001
• Kana R. Barker-Mabon
  Cypress Junior High School
  Memphis
  2001
• Kim Oliver Hawks
  Margaret Newton Elementary School
  Tiptonville
  2000
• Kathleen B. Jones
  South Clinton Elementary School
  Clinton
  2000
• Lori Bean Flemming
  Una Elementary School
  Nashville
  2000
• Dr. Sharon Chaney
  Hunters Lane Comprehensive High School
  Nashville
  1999
• Joel Giffin
  Maryville Middle School
  Maryville
  1999
• Sharon Robinson
  Northwest Middle School
  Knoxville
  1999
• Dr. Alana Delise Teague
  McNairy Central High School
  Selmer
  1999
• Melvin Blevins
  Lincoln Heights Elementary School
  Morristown
  1998
• Kathleen Lange
  Norman Smith Elementary School
  Clarksville
  1998
• Dr. John Lowrance
  Dyersburg Primary School
  Dyersburg
  1998
• Patricia Pursley
  Claxton Elementary School
  Powell
  1998
• Sharon Brown
  Ooltewah Middle School
  Ooltewah
  1997
• Bob Kerley
  Happy Valley High School
  Elizabethton
  1997
• Donna (Parker) Neblett
  Obion County Central High School
  Troy
  1997
• Eugene Wade
  Brentwood High School
  Brentwood
  1997
• Dr. Yvonne Allen
  Whiteville Elementary School
  Whiteville
  1996
• Lynda Hathcock
  Martin Primary School
  Martin
  1996
• Dr. Ilene Janson
  Haynesfield Elementary School
  Bristol
  1996
• Joseph Malloy, Jr.
  Lenoir City Elementary School
  Lenoir City
  1996
• Henrietta Grant
  Austin-East High School
  Knoxville
  1995
• Geraldine Hawes
  Cleveland High School
  Cleveland
  1995
• Terry NeSmith
  Bellevue Junior High School
  Memphis
  1995
• Linda Phelps
  Camden Central High School
  Camden
  1995
• Dr. Julie Williams
  Hunters Lane Comprehensive High School
  Nashville
  1995
• Pamela Jean Burish
  Eakin Elementary School
  Nashville
  1994
• Maria Carter
  McCormick Elementary School
  Elizabethton
  1994
• Lawrence Garrett
  Florida Elementary School
  Memphis
  1994
• Rosemary McKnight
  East Chester County Elementary School
  Henderson
  1994
• Carolyn Wood
  Brookmeade Elementary School
  Nashville
  1994
• Donna Hardy
  Bearden Middle School
  Knoxville
  1993
• Dr. Carol Hutson Garland
  Glendale Middle School
  Nashville
  1993
• Diane (Wright) Rutherford
  Maryville High School
  Maryville
  1993
• Billy Taylor
  Dyersburg High School
  Dyersburg
  1993
• Frank Vanzant
  Tullahoma High School
  Tullahoma
  1993
• Joseph York
  Adamsville High School
  Adamsville
  1993
• Ronnelle Blankenship
  Ganns Middle Valley Elementary School
  Hixson
  1992
• Carolyn Carbage
  Germantown Middle School
  Germantown
  1992
• David Hollowell
  Greeneville High School
  Greeneville
  1992
• Florence Kidd
  Head Middle School
  Nashville
  1992
• Sandra Miller
  Portland Middle School
  Portland
  1992
• Dr. Dan Russell
  Science Hill High School
  Johnson City
  1992