4 Knoxville-Area Teachers Earn Recognition from McAlister's Deli as Outstanding Educators

Knoxville, TN (May 30, 2019) — To celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week, we asked you, our guests, to nominate educators who have made an impact on you or our local community. Today, we announce our winners at our Knoxville locations. Congratulations to: 

Stephanie Coppinger of Gibbs High School

Leslie Stoner of Amherst Elementary School

Jacqueline Honeycutt of Emerald Academy​

Bob Tripp of Loudon High School​

Here's what some of the nominators had to say about the teachers:
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"Mrs. Coppinger is an amazing cosmetology teacher. She spends a lot of her own money on supplies for her students. She does free haircuts for the JROTC students (ARMY training for high school students). She works hard to get scholarships for her students. When I was going through chemotherapy, she shaved my head after my hair started to fall out. She is always positive and lifts up others." --LeeAnne Kepper

"Jacquie gives her whole heart to teaching students in this inner city school. ... If a teacher ever exemplified love for her students, that teacher is Jacquie Honeycutt." --Teresa Honeycutt

"I have been a teacher for 23 years. I was blessed with the opportunity to do a peer observation at another school in my county. The teacher I observed was Mrs. Stoner. Her dedication, passion, and creative thinking helped me find my passion for teaching again. I have incorporated a tremendous number of her ideas and suggestions into my classroom and have see amazing growth in my students because of the fresh ideas. ... She is a true teaching rockstar!" --Shannon Graham

"Mr. Tripp encourages Special Education to become more independent after graduation. He is program director for Project Able at Loudon High School. He job shadows Special Education students on job sites so that they may get jobs. ... He is a great teacher and friend to his students." --Ruth Ann Hickman

Each teacher is awarded a $50 McAlister's gift card and a certificate as well as tea and cookies for the class. Thank you to all of the above educators for all you have done for the students in your communities!

We received many amazing nominations, and we want to recognize them all. Here are the Teacher Appreciation nominees in Knoxville: 

• ​Amanda Lay, Jefferson Elementary School
• Kasey Powers, Beaumont Magnet Academy
• Brittany Horn, Cornerstone Academy 
• Kara Townsend, Inskip Elementary School
• Bethany Sharp, Ritta Elementary School
• Kristin Carris Halls Elementary School
• Debbie Faraone, Sweetwater Elementary School
• Melissa Grose, Holston Middle School 
• Rebecca Hckey Fair, Garden Pre-K
• Samantha Lawson, Bean Station Elementary School
• Amy Pickle, West Hills Elementary School
• Erin Rogers, First Lutheran School
• Chynna Santos, Christenberry Elementary School
• Tracy Anderson, Northwest Middle
• Robin Bowman, Powell Middle School
• Amanda Coker, Northwest Middle
• Adam Holland, First Baptist Academy 
• Blake Hopper, Powell Valley Elementary
• Amy Meredith, Carter Elementary
• Kristi Mitchell, Holston Middle School
• Bethanee Newman, Gibbs Middle School
• Rosemary Newport, Karns Elementary 
• Lani O'Connor, Jefferson County High School
• Aimee Perry, South Doyle High School
• Erin Rodgers, First Lutheran School
• Meredith Towe, A. L. Lotts Elementary
• Ashleigh Burgess, Homestead Elementary
• Jamie Dixon, Eaton Elementary School 
• Melinda Webster, Farragut Primary 
• Rhonda Hall, Farragut Primary School
• Lana Hsieh, Northshore Elementary School
• Amanda Martin, Northshore Elementary
• Leslie Smith, Loudon High School 
• Kateyln Stegman, Crookston High School 
• Jennifer Thomas, Lenoir City Christian Academy 
• Ashley Travis, Niota Elementary School 
• Allison Watson, Whittle Springs
• Angela Whitehead, Jefferson Elementary