2018 TCSS Teacher of the Year Awards

The TCSS Teacher of the Year Awards are given to honor the memory of Dr. Mary Graham, a Metro Nashville Social Studies Supervisor, who served as President of TCSS and who served many years as a member of the TCSS Board of Directors.

Award winners were selected based on excellence in the areas of classroom instruction, curriculum development, leadership in the teaching profession, professional development, and community involvement.  Each recipient received a check for $500 and a plaque from the TCSS.

Outstanding Elementary School
Teacher of the Year

Outstanding Middle School 
Teacher of the Year

Outstanding High School
Teacher of the Year

2018 Tennessee Geographic Alliance Geography Awards

Beverly and Mullane Teacher of the Year Awards
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Lottie and Alden Beverly 
Geography Teacher of the Year Award
Grades K-6​
Charlotte Ellington, a Social Studies Methods Professor at the University of Tennessee, Chattanooga, received the 2018 Lottie and Alden Beverly Geography Teacher of the Year Award. The Beverly award is bestowed for excellence in geography education for grades K-6.  Kurt Butefish, Coordinator of the Tennessee Geographic Alliance, presented the award at the March 2nd TCSS Annual Conference in Franklin.  Charlotte received a plaque and $500 check from the Alliance.  

​The award was established as the result of donations by two generous benefactors who are brothers.  They are named after two dedicated K-12 educators.   Alden Beverly was a lifelong teacher and administrator in the Westchester County, NY school system.  He served as a teacher, assistant principal, and principal of schools in that area.  He was genuinely interested in the health and development of public education.
Tom and Stella Mullane
Geography Teacher of the Year Award
Grades 7-12
​Ashley Flood, a teacher at Franklin High School, received the 2018 Tom and Stella Mullane Geography Teacher of the Year Award. The Mullane award is bestowed for excellence in geographic education in grades 7-12. Kurt Butefish, Coordinator of the Tennessee Geographic Alliance, presented the award at the March 2nd TCSS Annual Conference in Franklin.  Ashley received a plaque and $500 check from the Alliance.  ​

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The award was established as the result of donations by two generous benefactors who are brothers.  They are named after two dedicated K-12 educators.  Thomas Mullane taught high school in northern New Jersey and was routinely voted the outstanding teacher at his school.  He won national level awards for his development of curricular materials.  His colleagues and students held him in high regard and his students went on to excel in college.

​Lifetime Achievement Award
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Catherine Kelly, retired AP Human Geography teacher from MLK Magnet in Nashville, was presented a lifetime achievement award by the Tennessee Geographic Alliance (TGA) at the 2018 TCSS Annual Conference in Franklin on March 2nd.  Catherine was recognized for her tireless work in the geography education community, especially for her many years as Coordinator of the Tennessee Geographic Bee, the Coordinator for the Nashville Chapter of the TGA, and now her work with the Tennessee World Affairs Council.

Siesta Software Solutions Geography 
Lesson Plan of the Year Award

Nicole Resmondo, a teacher at Gresham Middle School in Knoxville, was presented the eleventh annual Geography Lesson Plan of the Year Award during the awards luncheon at the 2018 TCSS Annual Conference in Franklin on March 2nd.  Rebecca’s lesson plan titled Biome Story Map was chosen by a committee of the Tennessee Geographic Alliance Board of Directors.  Nicole was presented with a plaque and a check for $500 from the Alliance.