PCSS Announces District Teachers of the Year

PUTNAM COUNTY, TENN – The Putnam County School System has announced the 2021 Putnam County Teacher of the Year for elementary, middle, and high school.

Elementary School – Jennifer Peek – Sycamore Elementary School

ELEM PCSS TOY Group: From the left is Deborah Robbins, assistant principal at Sycamore Elementary; Sycamore Elementary Principal Tracy Nabors; PCSS Director of Schools Corby King; Elementary PCSS Teacher of the Year Jennifer Peek; Dr. Diana Wood, PreK- 4th Instructional Supervisor; and PCSS Deputy Director Tim Martin.

Middle School – Charity Bowie – Upperman Middle School

MS PCSS TOY Group: From the left is PCSS Director of Schools Corby King; Middle School PCSS Teacher of the Year Charity Bowie; Dr. Sharon Griggs, 5-8th Instructional Supervisor; and PCSS Deputy Director Tim Martin.

High School – Taylor Key – Upperman High School

HS PCSS TOY Group: From the left is PCSS Director of Schools Corby King; High School PCSS Teacher of the Year Taylor Key; Dr. Sharon Anderson, 9-12th Instructional Supervisor; PCSS Deputy Director Tim Martin; and Upperman High School

Each school in the Putnam County School System names a Teacher of the Year decided by the staff. Once a teacher has been named Teacher of the Year at the school level, they begin the three-step process that includes a thorough application, written responses and interview if they choose. The district Teacher of the Years is then named.

“This is an exciting time in the school system to celebrate our teachers,” said Director of Schools Corby King. “We want to congratulate all the teachers who were named Teacher of the Year at their schools. It is an honor to be chosen by your colleagues and recognized for your hard work. Congratulations to Ms. Peek, Ms. Bowie and Ms. Key for being our district Teachers of the Year. We are proud of you and the passion you bring to education every day to encourage and educate the whole student. We wish you the best of luck as you move into regional Teacher of the Year and hopefully Tennessee Teacher of the Year.”

Jennifer Peek is a special education Pre-K teacher and has been in education for 19 years, 12 of those years being at Sycamore Elementary. “I am so excited, and this is a huge honor. I am grateful and love my job,” said Peek.

Charity Bowie is a 6 th grade English Language Arts (ELA) teacher at Upperman Middle School and has been in education for a little over nine years, with eight of those years at Upperman Middle. “I am very honored and humbled,” said Bowie.

Taylor Key is the Family and Consumer Sciences teacher for grades 9-12 and has been in education for seven years, four of those years at Upperman High School. “It means the world to be named the high school Teacher of the Year for the county. This is an amazing county with amazing teachers. I am super excited,” said Key.