Last item for navigation
Last item for navigation
Last item for navigation
2023 District Teachers of the Year
2023 District Teachers of the Year
Posted on 02/14/2023
2023 District Teachers of the Year

From eight district-wide nominees, three teachers were selected to represent Bristol Tennessee City Schools in this year’s state Teacher of the Year award. The Teacher of the Year program recognizes and honors outstanding teachers in Tennessee. It is an opportunity to applaud teachers who devote their professional lives to enriching the lives of Tennessee students.  

All schools in Tennessee can nominate one teacher as a system finalist for grades PreK-4, 5-8, and 9-12. The three teachers selected from Bristol Tennessee City Schools are as follows: Christy Boggs, grades PreK-4; Amanda Varney, grades 5-8; and April Trivett, grades 9-12.  

PreK-4 District Finalist  

Christy Boggs is a first-grade teacher at Anderson Elementary. She is from Knoxville, Tennessee, where she grew up in the classrooms of her parents, who were both teachers. This is her sixteenth year of teaching, ten of which have been at Anderson. Ms. Boggs holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Johnson Bible College. She and her husband have four grown children, three sweet grandchildren, and one kitty.  

When asked why she teaches, Ms. Boggs replied, “I teach to change lives. If I pour into my students knowledge, kindness, and self-confidence, it will only make our world a better place. My hope is that they grow up aspiring to be whatever they want and be decent humans to those around them. 

While education has evolved and changed to a certain degree, there are two things that in my estimation have not changed: First, students need teachers to show they care about them and create a caring community within the classroom. This safe place makes it easier to learn, feel comfortable, and form friendships. Secondly, parents need to know that teachers are on their side. Once a parent knows how much we care and how invested we are in their children and family, that trust is there and learning and support occur. The teacher and the parent are partners in their child's education. 

5-8 District Finalist  

Amanda Varney is a Bristol, Tennessee, native who teaches seventh-grade math at Tennessee Middle School, where she has taught since 2014. She is married to Shane, and they have two dogs, Willow and Darla. Ms. Varney is also an aunt to three nieces and two nephews. She graduated from King University with a degree in Technical & Professional Communication and holds a Master of Arts in Teaching from East Tennessee State University. Ms. Varney is currently working on a Comprehensive Special Education K-12 endorsement and Special Education Interventionist endorsement through the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. 

After she graduated from college, Ms. Varney became an educational assistant at an elementary school where she gained firsthand experience working with students. I discovered that I really loved it and wanted to be a part of the teaching and learning community,” Ms. Varney said. When I finally became a teacher, I really appreciated the relationships that we build and the connections we make with students and families and each other. Also, I like math! I feel like if you make an impact on one student’s life, it is all worth it. 

“I love watching students realize capabilities they were not even sure they had. For some students, math can feel overwhelming, but witnessing those students achieve beyond what they thought was possible and the confidence that they gain from that experience, makes my soul happy.” 

 9-12 District Finalist  

April Trivett moved to Bristol in middle school, so she considers it her hometown. She has two “wonderful and mischievous rescue dogs,” who love to join her on outdoor adventures. Ms. Trivett holds an English degree and Master of Arts in Teaching from East Tennessee State University. She is also certified in ESL education. Ms. Trivett is in her fifth year of teaching and teaches English, creative writing, and journalism at Tennessee Online Public School. 

When asked why she became a teacher, Ms. Trivett replied, “I became a teacher because my greatest passions are literature, language, and community. Literature helps students see a place in the world for themselves, and learning to write well empowers them to find their authentic voice. I strive to create a classroom community where all students feel heard, seen, and safe to be themselves. 

I am still delighted every time a student tells me that they thought that they hated reading until they discovered a book in class that changed their mind, or when a student says that they have gained a new perspective on a topic that they had never considered before. I love watching students blossom into critical thinkers and engage with the world around them. I feel that the ultimate goal of teaching is to help students grow into active, empathetic, and thoughtful citizens. 

In addition to the three nominees selected for district Teacher of the Year Award, the following Bristol Tennessee City Schools teachers were also nominated:  

 Name  School
 Joanne Johnson  Avoca Elementary
 Margaret Wood  Fairmount Elementary
 Allyson Dowdell  Haynesfield Elementary
 Lori Brown  Holston View Elementary
 Elizabeth Arnold Tennessee High

 All nominees will be recognized at an annual Rotary Club of Bristol VA-TN Outstanding Teacher Awards event in April. Each of these teachers demonstrates their commitment to excellence and has a positive impact on the lives and futures of their students. 

Join us in congratulating these teachers on their outstanding accomplishment!  

Website by SchoolMessenger Presence. © 2024 SchoolMessenger Corporation. All rights reserved.