The Union County School Board recognized outstanding teachers of excellence at the meeting on March 19, 2026, for scoring TVAAS Level 4 or Level 5 or scoring above the state average in at least one tested subject.

At Big Ridge Elementary are Derrick Tharpe- 4th & 5th grade English. above state average; TVAAS Level 5, and Renita Malone- 4th & 5th grade Science above state average.

At Horace Maynard Middle School are Kirstin Toole- 7th grade English above state average; TVAAS Level 5, Heather Wallace- 8th grade English above state average, Laura Walston- TVAAS Level 4, Rob Luther- TVAAS Level 4, Jacqueline Leonard- TVAAS Level 4, Andrea Kiser- TVAAS Level 4, Donna Eagle- TVAAS Level 4, Rebecca Hickman- TVAAS Level 4, Marina Lacey- TVAAS Level 4, Laura Harrison- TVAAS Level 5, Jonathan Goforth- TVAAS Level 5, Anthony Malone- TVAAS Level 5, and Hayley Brantley-(Award based on UCHS) TVAAS Level 5.

At Maynardville Elementary, Laura Whitaker- 5th grade English. above state average; TVAAS Level 4, and Pam Monroe- 5th grade Science above state average; TVAAS Level 5.

At Paulette Elementary, Nicole Hickle- 3rd grade English. above state average, Savannah Rutherford- TVAAS Level 5, Samantha Atkins- 4th grade English. above state average; TVAAS Level 5, Destiney Weaver- 3rd grade Math above state average, and Courtney Collins- 3rd grade Science above state average.

At Sharps Chapel Elementary, Jamie Rhodes- 3rd & 4th grade Science above state average,and April LeFevers- 4th grade English above the state average.

At Union County High School, Leslie Middleton-UCHS Algebra 2 above the state average; TVAAS Level 5, Hannah Richardson- English 1 above the state average; TVAAS Level 4, Andrea Williams-UCHS English 1 above the state average, Hannah Dockery- English 2 above the state average; TVAAS Level 5, Kristie Dean- US History above the state average; TVAAS Level 4, Jaimie Akins- US History above the state average; TVAAS Level 4, Bethanee Newman- TVAAS Level 4, Austin Lay- TVAAS Level 4; TVAAS Level 5, Donna Campbell- TVAAS Level 5, Chase Cox- TVAAS Level 5, Christy Williams- TVAAS Level 5, and Ashton Goforth- TVAAS Level 5.

Congratulations to all for preparing our youth to strive to reach their dreams.
Thank you to Dr. Lauren Effler, Mr. Josh Williams, and Ms. Angela Henderlight for gathering this information.