News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Dodson Branch School will receive $10,000 after being nominated for the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching’s (NIET) Founder’s Award.
Principal Tammy Woolbright said she was excited once she discovered the school had been nominated for the award.
“We felt very honored in being recognized for all the hard work that our faculty, staff, and students have completed over the last five years of our TIF (Teacher Incentive Fund) Grant,” Woolbright said, “and the work that we’ve completed over the last year being a five (out of five) in our growth.”
The award recognizes schools who implement NIET’s principles to build educator excellence and advance student success.
Dodson Branch School has previously been nominated for the award in 2016 and 2017.
“At that time we utilized that money to provide technology in our building. As a faculty and staff we will get together and look at the needs that we currently have,” Woolbright said. “I’m sure that technology will be one of the needs. Basically we just try to work as a team to decide what will be the greatest need that would have to provide resources for our children.”
Woolbright said being nominated for a third time in four years is rewarding as an administrator.
“One of my greatest rewards is seeing my teachers grow. I’m truly a teacher at heart, and when I moved into the administrator position, I’ve always tried to look at my teachers, faculty, and staff as my students,” Woolbright said. “When I see their success and as they move forward as teacher leaders in the building – and also outside of the building – that’s very rewarding to see your faculty and staff grow.”
Dodson Branch School is one of five across the United States to be nominated for the award. The winner will be announced March 22 at NIET’s national conference in New Orleans, where the recipient will also receive $50,000.
