MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Students, staff and faculty at Middle Tennessee State University’s College of Education know their top-tier teacher preparation program — ranked the No. 1 producer of Tennessee’s most effective teachers by the state — relies on the hands-on experience education students receive from the mentor teachers who open their doors in local school districts. 

“These partnerships and residency opportunities undergird our commitment to preparing future teachers to meet the needs of our local districts,” said Education Dean Neporcha Cone. “Mentor teachers open their classrooms to our candidates, while providing them with opportunities to learn from their expertise and experiences. 

“Coupled with the content and pedagogical content knowledge candidates obtain as they matriculate through their educator preparation programs, these partnerships also create spaces for them to connect theory to practice before transitioning to their own classrooms.”

To formally recognize these key education partners, Shannon Harmon, associate professor of education, and a committee of Department of Elementary and Special Education faculty came together three years ago to launch the college’s Mentor Teachers of Excellence awards and hand deliver them, fittingly, in time for the Teacher Appreciation Week celebration that happens every May.

“These local educators guide, protect, nurture, support and educate future generations,” Harmon said. “It’s important for us to acknowledge the pivotal role they play in shaping the lives of children.”

The committee — which this year includes faculty Tom Black, Pam Kramer-Ertel and Janna McClain — uses a rubric to score the mentor teachers nominated by their MTSU student teachers and selects at least one recipient from each undergraduate program category in the college. 

This year’s winners come from partner districts Murfreesboro City Schools and Rutherford County Schools: 

• Carissa Crismon from Erma Siegel Elementary in MCS for the special education award.
• Grace Day from Rock Spring Elementary in RCS for the early childhood education award.
• Sara Beth Martin from Black Fox Elementary in MCS for the elementary education award.
• Tucker Webb from Stewarts Creek High School in RCS for the secondary education award.
• Melissa West from Oakland Middle School in RCS for the middle level education award.

“One of the best things about going out to deliver the awards this year was the response from the mentors and their principals,” Harmon said. “The Black Fox Elementary principal was especially complimentary of the teacher candidate who nominated and worked with Sara Beth Martin, even saying, ‘I wish we could keep him.’

“Melissa West said, ‘We love MTSU candidates because they are prepared to walk right in and get to work.’ As a supervisor of these residency candidates, I know and get to see the good things our candidates do, but to hear it this year was such a joy!”

Guiding the future of education

Carissa Crismon, who is a special education resource teacher at Siegel Elementary, said she takes on the extra responsibilities of mentor teaching not only because of its importance but because it makes her reflect on and hone her own teaching practices. 

“This award recognizes my dedication and effort in mentoring other educators, affirming that my contributions are making a positive impact,” said Crismon, who grew up in Parsons. “It also reinforces the importance of supporting the next generation of educators, and it promotes a culture of collaboration and learning.

“It is a signal honor to be recognized.” 

Grace Day, early childhood education teacher at Rock Springs, has mentored four future educators during her 17 years in the classroom, saying she participates to pay it forward after having an excellent mentor herself. 

“MTSU education students are professional, conscientious and committed to learning,” said Day, who is originally from Bowling Green, Kentucky. “I am thankful my skills and experience have in some small way benefitted these future teachers. I hope I have enabled them to see themselves as great teachers.”

Murfreesboro native Sara Beth Martin, who teaches elementary school at Black Fox, said mentor teachers are important partners who guide future educators into the career and that she keeps in touch with her own mentor teachers to this day. 

“I am very honored that my student teacher nominated me for this award,” she said. “My student teacher knows I am not the type that likes being in the ‘spotlight,’ but I am truly grateful for this recognition.”

Martin, an alumna, even reached out to Harmon and the team to express her gratitude. 

“I have enjoyed hosting MTSU student teachers over the years and hope to continue to host many more before retirement,” she wrote. “As I went through student teaching at MTSU 14 years ago, my mentor teachers were the ones who played the biggest role in preparing me for my own classroom.”

Tucker Webb, who teaches art at Stewarts Creek High, has mentored almost 20 students during his six years as a mentor teacher. 

“The most important aspect of being a mentor teacher is showing education students and student teachers how to find joy in their teaching,” said the two-time MTSU alumnus from Middle Tennessee. “To be chosen as a mentor of excellence is a high honor. I think that it is also validating because it means that I made at least a small difference in the student teaching experience of a teacher (or teachers) that will go on to make an impression on hundreds or thousands of students of their own.”

Melissa West, who teaches math at Oakland Middle, has used her over three decades of experience in the classroom to mentor 15 MTSU students over the past 10 years. 

“Winning the award is special because my student teacher nominated me,” said West, a Smithville native and another two-time MTSU alum. “The very idea that someone would take the time to nominate me was a very sweet and appreciated gesture. There are so many teachers that could have received this award; it is a true honor to be nominated and chosen.”

West added that the MTSU students she mentors these days are more prepared than ever. 

“I help the student bridge what he or she has been taught at MTSU and apply it to the classroom … and to stress to them that mistakes are a blessing you will learn and benefit from!”

Learn more about becoming a “Difference Maker” at the College of Education at https://mtsu.edu/education/. 

— Stephanie Wagner (Stephanie.Wagner@mtsu.edu)