Farragut Intermediate teacher surprised with Wal-Mart State Teacher of the Year presentation

Mrs. Cheryl "Cherry" Mashburn Walmart State of Tennessee Teacher of the Year	Farragut Intermediate students hold a banner proclaiming Ms. Mashburn as Teacher of the Year. Students, faculty, staff and community surprised Ms. Mashburn during a presentation ceremony Wednesday.

Video Presentation

View the complete Ceremony courtesy of KCS-TV

Turkey Creek Wal-Mart Co-Manager Wayne Art presented Farragut Intermediate School a check for $10,000 in honor of Ms. Mashburn.

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Interview with Cherry Mashburn

An Interview with FIS Principal Kay Wellons

An Interview with Wal-Mart Store Managers

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	Farragut Intermediate students, staff, faculty, and visitors give Ms. Mashburn a standing ovation as she is introduced as the State Teacher of the Year.
	Farragut students, many of whom are members of Ms. Mashburn's class, sang a special song in her honor. We appreciate you, they sang as they pointed to Ms. Mashburn

 Cheryl Mashburn, a third-grade teacher at Farragut Intermediate School, has been selected as one of the top educators in the nation in Wal-Mart’s 11th annual Teacher of the Year program. Mashburn was honored as Tennessee Teacher of the Year in a ceremony at a school-wide assembly on Sept. 6.

Mashburn was chosen by the Phi Delta Kappa International education association as the State Teacher of the Year from among teachers throughout the state for contributions to education and the positive impact made on students.  Representatives from Phi Delta Kappa and the Turkey Creek Wal-Mart Supercenter were on hand at the ceremony to present Mashburn with a $10,000 educational grant from Wal-Mart to the school.  Mashburn also received a personalized Teacher of the Year leather tote, a crystal apple trophy, business cards, a Teacher of the Year certificate and a one-year membership to Phi Delta Kappa. 

“This award recognizes teachers who move beyond books and basic curriculum to instill a passion for learning in all of their students,” said Wayne Art, store co-manager at the Turkey Creek Wal-Mart Supercenter.  “We are extremely proud that this great honor has been awarded to one of our own teachers at Farragut Intermediate School.” Mashburn was first selected as the local Teacher of the Year winner announced last May by the store.  “This award is a reflection of all educators like Cheryl Mashburn who are dedicated to their students and their profession,” Art added.

Wal-Mart’s Teacher of the Year program is one of the largest teacher recognition efforts in the country, giving $4.9 million this year alone to the schools of winning teachers.  Since the Teacher of the Year program began in 1995, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. has honored more than 26,000 teachers nationwide and donated more than $18.5 million to local schools.  In 2005, the company provided more than $45 million in support of educational initiatives.

“Educators need to be recognized now more than ever as they face the current challenges of improving student achievement," said Dr. William Bushaw, executive director of Phi Delta Kappa. “The recognition that this program brings, as well as the dollars it provides to schools, is a very tangible contribution by corporate America toward school improvement across the country.”

How Winners Were Selected

According to Bushaw, several criteria were used to evaluate the applications and determine the winners.  Applicants answered four questions with each response limited to 250 words; judges gave each answer a numerical score.

1. What do you consider to be your greatest contribution to students?
2. What self-initiated practices, programs or projects have you implemented to produce a high level of student achievement?
3. What do you consider to be the three most critical issues in education that affect students?  Address one of these issues by describing how you attempt to respond to it.
4. At what level and degree are you involved in community volunteer work?  Describe how your involvement has influenced your teaching.

Applicants also submitted two letters of recommendation – one from an immediate supervisor and one from a colleague, a community member, a student’s parent or a student.