By ELLEN BROWN

Staff Writer

SEVIERVILLE — Sevier County Bank has been an active partner with Sevier County Schools for years, helping promote students’ and teachers’ achievements.

The partnership’s latest venture is the Sevier County Education Hall of Fame, which will welcome its first inductees at the Sevier County Teacher of the Year Banquet in April.

“We wanted to take the Teacher of the Year Banquet to a different level,” said R.B. Summitt Jr., president of Sevier County Bank. “We plan to include and honor teachers, administrators and support staff equally, really make it representative of all sections. These will be folks that really made a commitment and made a difference.”

In forming the Education Hall of Fame Committee, representatives from the bank and the school system recruited members from all areas of Sevier County, including the Sevier County School Board. The committee has already held two meetings to discuss details such as criteria for nominees.

“We will honor people in three categories (teacher, support staff and administration) every year,” said Mary Summitt of Sevier County Bank, also a committee member. “We’re not leaving out the deceased or retired in any way.”

“It’s important that we get a large selection,” added R.B. “We’re fortunate to have enough people (who were employed by the schools) who have stayed in Sevier County. This first class of inductees is important — it sets the tone. We don’t want to miss anybody but we don’t know everybody. We really want the community’s input; we want it to be their Education Hall of Fame.”

There will be several inductees this year, although the exact number has yet to be decided. Nominees who are not selected will be considered for the next year’s class.

“It’s important to note this is an ongoing thing,” Mary said.

Nomination forms are available at the Sevier County Public Library branches, Sevier County schools, Sevier County Bank branches and online at www.sevier.org and www.seviercobank.com.

The deadline to turn in nominations is March 12. The inductees will be chosen March 31 and announced at the Sevier County Teacher of the Year Banquet, set for April 27.

ebrown@themountainpress.com