Trethewey named top teacher

Art teacher Dacia Trethewey, who teaches at Parkway School four days each week and at Bethel one day each week, has been named the Watauga County Schools Teacher of the Year for 2009-10.

Trethewey was selected from among the nine school-wide Teachers of the Year in the Watauga County Schools. She succeeds 2008-09 Teacher of the Year Erin Patterson of Parkway.

Watauga County schools superintendent Marty Hemric (left) and Parkway School principal Doug Faulkner (right) congratulate 2009-10 Teacher of the Year Dacia Trethewey. Photo by Jason Reagan

The other eight school-wide Teachers of the Year include Pace Cooper of Mabel; Carol Critcher of Cove Creek; Karen Farthing of Valle Crucis; Alison Garrett of Watauga High School; Julie Gurganus of Green Valley; Ramona Hemric of Bethel; Misty Hyler of Hardin Park; and Susan O’Bryant of Blowing Rock.

Trethewey has taught in Watauga County schools for six years. She is a graduate of Appalachian State University where she completed a bachelor’s degree in art education and elementary education.

She has also achieved National Board Certification, the highest professional credential available in the teaching profession.

“She has all the intangibles you can’t teach or coach and she has a great heart for service to students. She has very high standards and she impacts everyone she sees all day with those standards,” Parkway Principal Doug Faulkner said.

“Ms. Trethewey is an excellent choice for the Teacher of the Year for the Watauga County Schools,” said superintendent Marty Hemric said.

“Her commitment to the students at Parkway Elementary is evident in her teaching and in her philosophy of believing that every student can learn and perform at a higher capacity. She teaches our young people to value themselves and her emphasis on making learning experiences relevant to the students’ personal lives is superior. We are so fortunate and grateful to have Ms. Trethewey in the Watauga County Schools.”

The process for selecting the Watauga County Schools Teacher of the Year includes classroom observations, a written statement of teaching philosophy from each teacher, and an interview.

The selection committee includes representation from teachers, principals, the Board of Education, and the Watauga County Schools central office.

Each school’s Teacher of the Year receives $500 from Boone Regional Ear, Nose, & Throat Associates and $350 from the Watauga County Schools in recognition of their award.

As Watauga County Schools Teacher of the Year, Trethewey will receive an additional $500 from Boone Regional Ear, Nose, & Throat Associates, and an additional $350 from the Watauga County Schools.

Boone Regional Ear, Nose, & Throat Associates has been the major sponsor of the Teacher of the Year program in the Watauga County Schools for nine years, contributing a total of $45,000 for teacher awards during that time.

Boone Regional Ear, Nose & Throat has been recognized with an Education Partnership Award by the Board of Education for their generous long term support of the Teacher of the Year program.

Trethewey will now compete for regional Teacher of the Year in the Northwest region of the state, one of six regions that will select finalists for the North Carolina Teacher of the Year award.