News

Product of school system is its Teacher of the Year

Katie Bradley was named 2015 Teacher of the Year.

By Marissa Treible, Published: May 29, 2015

A graduate of the local school system, an emotional Katie Bradley looked out at the audience that had just given her a standing ovation as Henderson County’s teacher of the year.

“I grew up in Henderson County public schools," she said, "and there’s several people in this room that I had as teachers. I’m a product of this county. I’m a product of what this county can do, and I just feel so honored and so blessed to receive this award and to be in the presence of so many amazing teachers.”
Bradley, an occupational careers teacher at East Henderson High School, received the award during a luncheon at Hendersonville Country Club Friday during administrators, principals and school supporters also honored 22 other nominees.
“We do this job not for the money, we do this job not because we get summers off, not because we have Christmas breaks and not because we have spring breaks, though, those are nice,” Bradley said. “We do this job because we care about kids and we care about making an impact on kids. Every single teacher in this room knows what I’m talking about. It’s not enough to care about these kids. We don’t only care about them, but we also have to teach them. That’s what we do.”
Keynote speaker Ellie Caldwell, the student body president of North Henderson High School, valedictorian of her graduating class and one only 10 nominees from North Carolina for the Presidential Scholars program, thanked the teachers and discussed the important roles they play in the lives of their students.
“As students we come to each of you as clay, and you are the potter,” Caldwell said. “Each year, you mold us, perfecting us, and building on what was done previously to create a spectacular final masterpiece. Yes, at the end every piece is unique. Every piece will have different journeys. But most importantly, each piece of art was created and touched by you with love and care.”
The Teacher of the Year Award is sponsored by Park Ridge Health, which provided each school’s teacher of the year with a coupon for a free massage at The Spa at Park Ridge Health.

Other teacher of the year nominees were:

• Lisa Lightfoot, Apple Valley Middle School
• Lisa Dennison, Atkinson Elementary School
• Christine Mukosiej, Balfour Education Center
• Nicole Conti, Bruce Drysdale Elementary School
• Donna Caban, Clear Creek Elementary School
• Sarah Owen, Dana Elementary School
• Justin McKenzie, Early College High School
• Lena Robertson, Edneyville Elementary School
• Allison Keever, Etowah Elementary School
• Anthony Campbell, Flat Rock Middle School
• Elizabeth Barbour, Fletcher Elementary School
• Geoffrey Kinsey, Glenn C. Marlow Elementary School
• Jessia Hughes, Hendersonville Elementary School
• Elise Joyce, Hendersonville High School
• Julie Rogers, Hendersonville Middle School
• Holly Brookshire, Hillandale Elementary School
• Tamara Byrd, Mills River Elementary School
• Keang Uy, North Henderson High School
• Laura Rigg, Rugby Middle School
• Julie Conn, Sugarloaf Elementary School
• Holly McMurray, Upward Elementary School
• Rebecca Hanson, West Henderson High School