Photos courtesy Jackson Magazine, Northwest Schools and Vandercook Lake Schools
(May 6, 2021 10:32 AM) Jackson Magazine presented its eleventh annual Top Teachers Awards at a presentation held at the Commonwealth Commerce Center this week.
In addition to recognition in the May issue of Jackson Magazine, the Top Teachers also received a total of $12,000, thanks to a partnership that began in 2014 with the Jackson Community Foundation (JCF) and the Hurst Foundation.
Through the Teacher’s Fund of JCF and the Hurst Foundation, four Top Teachers each received a $1,500 grant for classroom use and/or professional development. The Teacher of the Year received $7,500 to use any way they wish.
To choose the Top Teachers, a committee of educators and businesspeople whittled the list to the Top 10. Those 10 teachers received two classroom visits from a second committee; a third group chose the final five. The Top Teachers of 2021 are:
• Teacher of the Year: Jordan Crockett, Northwest High School
• Tracy Dryer, Northwest High School
• Anthony Smith, Northwest Kidder Middle School
• Matthew Snell, Northwest High School
• Heather Swaenepol, Vandercook Lake Townsend Elementary
Nominations for 2022 are now being accepted at JacksonMagazine.com. To be eligible, a teacher must teach K-12 in a Jackson County school and have at least five years of experience.