Hamilton County Schools recognizes the 2024 Teachers of the Year
HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) — The Hamilton County Board of Education held a ceremony on January 18, 2024, to recognize and honor their teachers of the year.
The teachers of the year were recognized, gifted $500 and given a car to use for one year. The Chattanooga Area Schools Federal Credit Union provided the $500 gift, and the Bowers Automotive Group provided the vehicles.
Those teachers are Catherine Casselman, Matty Hardy and Olivia Kane.
Catherine Casselman / East Side Elementary
Catherine Casselman is currently a fourth-grade teacher at East Side Elementary School. She has been a teacher for six years, spending most of those years in Tennessee.
Hamilton County Schools (HCS) says Casselman is an advocate for students and other teachers. She is able to identify when students need extra instructional attention. Casselman is also a mentor to other teachers with monthly professional development.
“Supporting new teachers is one of my passions as an educator… Strengthening new teachers with research-based strategies and multiple levels of support impacts the overall culture of our school and district positively,” Casselman explained.
Matty Hardy / Normal Park
Matty Hardy is a career and technical education teacher at Normal Park Museum Magnet Upper School. She has been an educator for eight years, spending six of those in Tennessee. However, she is originally from New York.
HCS says Hardy creates projects that engage students at every level. She says projects like this “improve school culture by building relationships between campuses and the community and bring joy and excitement in the classroom through engaging hands-on learning.”
These types of projects also allow staff to collaborate, according to HCS.
Olivia Kane / HCS
Olivia Kane is a chemistry and biology teacher at the STEM School. She has five years of experience as a teacher for HCS.
She gives students hands-on real-world experiments, which give students skills they can use whether or not they pursue a science career.
Kane says she changed her teaching style from “I do, we do, you do” to “you do, we do, I do,” so students can create their own understandings.
HCS says she also currently works in the Global Center for Digital Innovation, teaching chemical bonding, prototyping and the iterative design process.
HCS Superintendent of Schools Dr. Justin Robertson thanked community partners for helping recognize these teachers.
“We are extremely proud of the accomplishments of this year’s Teachers of the Year, and we very much appreciate our community partners and the Hamilton County Schools Foundation for their contributions to honor these dedicated professionals,” Robertson said. “Strong teachers are what makes it possible for every student to learn in Hamilton County, and these teachers are a shining example of the excellence in our classrooms.”
Bowers Automotive Group President Bradley Cobb also commented on the importance of teachers in their community.
“Other than family and church, there is not a more important group of people who can help shape our children in a positive way than teachers,” said Cobb. “Bowers Automotive Group, along with many local businesses, want to help recognize and reward these three incredible teachers for all their hard work and dedication to our children. Our goal is to help enhance this program to get more applications and involvement from all the Hamilton County Teachers who make a daily commitment to our community by helping educate our kids.”
As Chattanooga Area Schools Credit Union President and CEO David Siatkowski presented the three teachers with a check, he applauded them for their dedication.
“Chattanooga Area Schools Credit Union is proud to partner with Hamilton County Schools, and we are proud to present $500 to each of these teachers to honor their achievements and thank them for their outstanding performance,” Siatkowski said. “It is our honor to recognize them as teachers of the year and for their dedication to their students.”
