By ELLEN BROWN

Staff Writer

Two Sevier County Teachers of the Year are among nine finalists for Tennessee Teacher of the Year.

Cheryl Deaton, Sevier County Primary Grades Teacher of the Year, and Karen Kelley, Sevier County Secondary Grades Teacher of the Year, are among elementary, middle and high school educators honored from each grand division of the state.

“We’re very pleased,” Jack Parton, director of Sevier County Schools, said. “They will both represent Sevier County Schools and East Tennessee very well.”

“We’re extremely proud of them,” added Debra Cline, Sevier County Schools director of curriculum and instruction. “They are so deserving of this. They represent the hard-working people who work with children every day.”

Deaton, who teaches at Pigeon Forge Primary School, has taught for a total of 34 years at eight schools in three different states. She has also served as a principal and district administrator and taught English in Colombia. She moved to Sevier County with her husband in 2001.

Kelley, who teaches at Pigeon Forge High School, has taught for 13 years and arrived at PFHS when it opened in 1999. She currently teaches U.S. History, along with Bible as an elective course. Her husband, Troy Kelley, is principal at Pigeon Forge Middle School.

According to a news release from the Tennessee Department of Education, grand division winners and Teacher of the Year will be chosen from the nine finalists in the fall.

“Sevier County has a rich tradition of our teachers being highlighted in the program,” said Cline, who noted Pigeon Forge Primary School teacher Pam Thomas, one of the nine finalists two years ago, is among several of the school system’s teachers honored over the years.

The Teacher of the Year program is sponsored by the Niswonger Foundation, which provides $21,000 in monetary awards to encourage professional development, graduate study, higher student outcomes and mentoring. As a show of appreciation and encouragement for teacher excellence, the foundation sponsors a banquet each fall for the finalists.

Deaton and Kelley were not able to be reached for comment as of press time.

ebrown@themountainpress.com