Chamber salutes educators at annual reception

The Shelby County Chamber of Commerce 2023 Teacher Appreciation Reception was held Wednesday, May 3 at the Windham Civic Center in Center, as part of Teacher Appreciation week.

The annual reception salutes and recognizes the dedicated administrators and teaching staff of all Shelby County school districts.

Named Elementary Teacher of the Year was Alisha Murray from Center Elementary School. Joanna Huckabee from Tenaha High School was selected as Secondary Teacher of the Year. Each was recognized by her principal and received a Certificate of Recognition.
Chamber President Deborah Chadwick welcomed attendees and introduced honorees for Mary Lynn Tinkle who was unable to attend.

Tinkle’s remarks, delivered by Chadwick, described elementary Teacher of the Year, Alisha Murray noting, “If you asked Murray what she teaches, it would not be reading, writing or social studies. Her answer would be, ‘I teach children.’ This is a belief that defines her job as a teacher. She truly aims to see and teach the whole child and work to determine how she can help them grow and flourish in many different aspects of their lives.”

“She has learned that celebrating growth in any form, no matter how small, is an accomplishment worth celebrating and is often that celebration of even small accomplishments that makes students sometimes for the first time see themselves as learners,
not losers.”

Murray was described as motivated to her effective yet challenging approach to teaching was, ‘education is my passion because I'm able to entrust students while showing the light of Christ through love and service.’”

Secondary Teacher of the Year, Joanna Huckabee was introduced with, “Let me tell you about this teacher who could never be described in just one sentence. Beautiful on the outside and more importantly, beautiful on the inside,” said Chadwick. “Builds relationships with students because she knows students don't care how much you know, until they know how much the teacher cares. Energetic, driven, competitive, positive, and passionate. Community supporter, devoted wife, mother, daughter, selected two years in a row for campus Teacher of the year.
Tells students and her own children, there are winning days in which you achieve your goals, and there are learning days where you make yourself better by learning from your mistakes in other words, no such thing as a bad or worthless day.”

Huckabee was also described as, “Born to teach.” She was said to have a teacher’s spirit throughout her time in school earning her education, and her mother has said she was destined to be a teacher no matter what path she chose.” Huckabee was said to have a strong determination to teach students skills needed to be successful in the world, job ready and gainfully employable after high school, or ready for college.

“One of her greatest highlights of teaching in Tenaha,” said Chadwick, happened this year with the support of her superintendent. She taught a drone certification pathway that teaches students how to fly drones and a number of applications for drone videography that will open doors for students in a fast-growing industry.”

If asked if she was born to teach, Chadwick noted Tinkle’s remarks, “I think she would answer similar to, ‘I wasn't born just to teach, I was born to inspire others, to change people, to provide opportunity, and never give up. Even when faced with challenges that seem impossible.’”

Past Teachers of the Year include:
1991 Portia Gaines and Gloria Fiedler
1992 Carolyn Bounds and Cathy Taylor
1993 Leanne Fenley and Martha Caddell
1994 Belinda Loftice
1995 Elaine Snider
1996 Matt Loftice
1997 Pat Crawford
1998 Fannie Watson
1999 Lin Gamble
2000 Mike Wood
2001 Brenda Agnew
2002 Vicki Edge and Rob Payne
2003 Sharon Samford and Silver Motley
2004 Alice Sue Howard and Dottie West
2005 Debbie Leggett and Frank Fitzgerald
2006 Randy Smith and Winola Ellis
2007 Sharon Stewart and Carol Windham
2008 Ann Butler and Judy Andrews

2009 Robin Hooper and Elzie Suell
2010 Mila Smith and Suzanne Tomlinson
2011 Gladys Simon and Gary McCann, Jr.
2012 Tonya Fenton and Sue Smith
2013 Danielle Smith and Hannah Ramsey
2014 April Ramsey and Chris Watlington
2015 Nancy Dickerson and Jared Jones
2016 Amber Graves and Kay Dawson
2017 Michelle Covington Richards and Adam Ramirez
2018 Lucinda Simmons and Teresa Wiist
2019 Beth Nichols and Brooke Harrison
2020 Laura Oates and Virginia Fischer
2021 Stacie Barr and Dominque Roland
2022 Syreeta Johnson and Paola Grande Presenting Sponsor for the event was Badders Law Firm. Gold Sponsors were Farmers State
Bank and Shelby Savings Bank. Silver Sponsors included H&R Block. Mc Williams & Son, Ray Jones Chevrolet. Host Table Sponsors were American State Bank, Century 21 Action Team, Holiday Nursing and Rehabilitation, Mathews Realty, O'Reilly's Group/McDonalds, Panola College - Shelby County, Town & Country Real Estate, -Windham Dental. Spotlight Tables were APineywoods HHC, Blake Furniture, Impressions Advertising Specialists, Shelby Insurance Agency, The Neon Horizon.

Shelby County Chamber of Commerce Teachers of the year for 2023 are Alisha Murray from Center Elementary School, Elementary Teacher of the Year; and Joanna Huckabee from Tenaha High School, Secondary Teacher of the Year. (Andi Foster photo/The Light and Champion)

Teacher Appreciation Award recipients were front row (left to right) Alyssa King, Tenaha Elementary School; Jessica Belrose, S.W. Carter Elementary; Bailee Rash, Shelbyville Middle School; April Bloys, Center Middle School; Holly Derrick, Timpson Elementary; Joanna Huckabee, Tenaha Secondary School. Back row (left to right) Tim Verner, Excelsior ISD; John Jackson, Center Roughrider Academy; Genera Bolton, F.L. Moffett Primary; Kerin Curry, Center High School; Alisha Murray, Center Elementary School; Josie Seale, Shelbyville High School. Not pictured are Kim Bruister, Timpson Middle School and Laura Gafford, Timpson High School. (Andi Foster photo/The Light and Champion)