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The eight finalists, pictured left to right with Jimmy Tanner, Bob Decker (CISRC Board Chair), Cathy Hoyle, Nikki Gilreath, Jill Francis, Jennifer Hutchins Condrey, Ashley Jones, Marybeth Francis, Mike Tanner (Tanner Foundation and CISRC Board Vice Chair), Leslie Rhinehart and Susan Todd all exceed expectations within the classroom and in their contributions to the well being of students in and beyond school.
We are privileged to name Jennifer Hutchins Condrey as the Tanner Second Award for Excellence in Teaching Recipient for 2011and Leslie Rhinehart as the Tanner First Award for Excellence in Teaching Recipient for 2011 shown with Bob Decker and Mike Tanner after receiving their Awards and Plaques.
“The beauty of teaching lies in the hearts of children,” said the biography of Jennifer Hutchins Condrey, Second Award Recipient who was nominated by Julia Brown, the Tanner Award Recipient for 2008. In the nomination Brown said, “Jennifer knows from her own life experience with a special needs child the hurdles they face. She is the quintessential caring, loving, firm teacher that can reach even the most resistant learner or profoundly disabled child. She never gives up.” Brown went on to describe a beautiful sensory garden Condrey constructed in her classroom and made handicapped accessible. The garden stimulates the students’ curiosity and use of all 5 senses: watching birds, feeling soil, planting and harvesting fresh produce, smelling blossoms and herbs, seeing spinners move. Condrey inspires all students in the school to understand the challenges her students face. The interviewers as well were impressed with her passion, commitment to children and confident energy. She receives $500 to use in her classroom.
“I always used to hear, Mrs. Rhinehart is the best, Mrs. Rhinehart is my favorite and oh, you’ll love Mrs. Rhinehart. I never knew why until I had her for a teacher of my own.” So began Jessica McAbee, in her nomination of Leslie Rhinehart. McAbee, went on to say, “Mrs. Rhinehart was my chemistry and now my physics teacher... (she) has been the only teacher to show she believed in not only the smart ones in the class, but every single student in that room. Whether it is performing an experiment or lecturing, Mrs. Rhinehart pours her heart and soul into everything she does.”
Article submitted by: Charlotte Ware Epley; Executive Director Communities In Schools of Rutherford County
