Cleveland elementary school music teacher named Southeast TN Regional Teacher of the Year

Cleveland, TN (WDEF) – Arnold Memorial Elementary School music teacher Siema Swartzel was recently named the Southeast TN Regional Teacher of the Year for elementary grades.

She was selected by a group of regional judges.

Swartzel has 33 years of teaching experience and was recognized by Yale University as a Distinguished Music Educator in 2013 and was a quarter finalist for The Grammy Music Educator Award in 2013 and 2014..

Officials say this is the fourth consecutive year that Cleveland City Schools has a finalist for the Tennessee Teacher of the Year.

Swartzel will now compete for the Tennessee Teacher of the Year.

That winner will be announced in October.