At the time of his Award, Trey Duke taught fifth-grade at Stewarts Creek Elementary School in Smyrna, Tennessee. He fostered substantial academic growth among students across a wide variety of ability levels. Teaching in an inclusion classroom with a large number of special education students, Duke provided individualized instruction through innovative teaching strategies supported by technology, including small-group instruction, book clubs, and kinesthetic learning opportunities involving music. His students exceeded local and state averages on the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP), and even autistic children have undergone remarkable transformations under his tutelage. After winning his award, Trey served as the Assistant Principal and Lead Principal of Smyrna Elementary School in Rutherford County, Tennessee. As an elementary Title I school principal, he led his school with the district’s highest percentage of English Learners and students of poverty as they earned the distinction of “Tennessee Reward School” for exceptional student progress. Afterwards, he served as the Director of Federal Programs and RTI for Rutherford County Schools and was the founding principal of Salem Elementary School located in Murfreesboro, TN. In March of 2021, Trey was appointed as the Director of Schools for Murfreesboro City Schools in Tennessee. Serving over 9,000 students in 13 schools, Trey leads the district as they work to assure the academic and personal success of each child in the community.
2021 Middle Tennessee State University, Ed.D.
2003 Middle Tennessee State University, B.S.
Middle Tennessee State University, M.Ed.
