B

Hamblen County’s longest serving teachers received plaques Tuesday night for years of service by the Hamblen County Board of Education in the Hugh Clement Central Office Building’s Heritage Room.

A total of 78 teachers were honored by the awarding of service plaques by Superintendent of Schools Arnold Bunch.

“This is a really big deal and what we think is so important about this is recognizing these people who have served with us and continue to serve with us,” Bunch said. “They are valued employees and professionals. We really appreciate them. This is just a small token on behalf of the District and the Board to thank you for your service with us here in Hamblen County to show how much we appreciate you, love you and want to keep you.”

Teachers were honored for 10-years, 20-years and 30 years of service.

10-Year Honorees

Teachers with 10 years of service include:

Terri Aebel, of Hillcrest; Kendi Barnard, of Lincoln Heights Elementary; Preston Bryant, of West View; Samantha Buck, of John Hay; Amanda Clayton, of East High; Nathan Coffman, of Lincoln Heights Middle; Teddy Faxon, of East High; Hannah Finchum, of Russellville; Sarah Fleshman, of West Elementary; Melissa Gibson, of Hillcrest; Chelsey Holt, of Manley; Tasha Horner, of Union Heights; David Johnson, of East High;

Also, Sarah Leeper, of East High; Shana McDaniel, of Alpha; Allison McFall of Meadowview; Natilee Medley, of Manley; Hillary Morrison, of Lincoln Heights Elementary; Rachel Newsom, of East Ridge; Bailee Northern, of East High; Bobbie Ogden, of West High; Justin Pickett, of West High; Jacob Pitts of East Ridge; Megan Rader, of East Ridge; Michelle Rosen, of Hillcrest; Brittany Simonds, of Manley; Moriah Smith, of Russellville; Amber Spencer, of Union Heights; Brittney Thompson, of Hillcrest; Marvin Trent, of the Transportation Department; Melissa Tripuka, of East High; Hope Walker, of Hillcrest; Alison Williams, of West Elementary; and Lauren Yeary, of West Elementary.

20-Year Honorees

Teachers with 20-years of service include:

Erika Armstrong, of Hillcrest; Keith Baker, of Lincoln Heights Elementary; Travis Bowden, of the Transportation Department; Todd Bradley of West High; Stephanie Brady of Lincoln Heights Middle; Tenesha Carpenter, of West High; Misty Castle, of the Transportation Department; Sarah Cates, of Manley; Juan Cervantes, of the Central Office; Pamela Collins, of Witt; Nicholas Darnell, of East Ridge; Jennifer Frey, of Lincoln Heights Middle; Sylvia Gibson, of East Ridge; Trista Godbey, of West View; Tracy Hall of East Ridge; Eric Helton, of Whitesburg; Lance Helton of Westview; Mary Alison Helton, of Union Heights; Corie Holt, of Alpha Elementary; Lucas Hurst, of the Maintenance Department; Meghan Jarnigan, of East Ridge; Melanie Justis, of West High; Krishanna Langhans, of Lincoln Heights Middle; William McKinney of Miller Boyd; Jennifer Murphy, of West High; Richard Rader of East Ridge; Maria Reyna, of Lincoln Heights Middle; Traci Samples, of Witt; Mary Sabella Sauceman, of West High; Darrell Shaftner, of Hillcrest; Tammy Smith, of West High; and Greta Tilson, of Lincoln Heights Elementary.

30-Year Honorees

Teachers with 30-years of service include:

Traci Antrican, of the Central Office; Misty Hance, of John Hay; Lisa Holt, of Manley; Kristen Johns, of Russellville; Amy Jordan, of Russellville; Christina Kinder, of Alpha; Daniel Newman, of the Technology Department; Susan Orr, of Manley; Larissa Spoone, of Russellville; David Tripuka, of West High and Teresa Wilson, of the Central Office.

“That is a big-time commitment to this District and a big-time commitment to the students,” Bunch said.

Tenure Awarded

Ten teachers were given tenure by the Board. They were:

Sally Ann Lawson, of Alpha; Heather Yount, of East Ridge; Mark Seal of East Ridge; Sarah Rogers, of Hillcrest; Jessica Schaus, of Lincoln Heights Elementary; Ali Carroll, of Lincoln Heights Middle; Duke Stratton, of East High; Shawna Alder, of Russellville; Katy Bridgewater, of Westview; and Veronica Lynne Hileman, of Witt.

Spelling Bee winners

The winner and the runner-up of the recent Hamblen County Spelling Bee were also honored. Isaac Drinnon, of East Ridge Middle School won the county bee, while Whitesburg’s Landon Helton was the runner-up.