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Miss Merrifield named district Teacher of the Year; Coyle Chevrolet provides one-year vehicle lease and $500 prize
Summary
A classroom teacher identified in the transcript as Miss Merrifield was surprised in class when district staff announced she was the district Teacher of the Year; Coyle Chevrolet (Chris Coyle) is providing a one-year vehicle lease and the district award includes a $500 check.
Miss Merrifield, a classroom teacher, was surprised at school when district staff and colleagues revealed she had been named the district Teacher of the Year.
"Hearing that I had been chosen was so exciting and such an honor," Miss Merrifield said after the presentation. The unveiling included a vehicle displayed out front with a large bow; the sponsor helped showcase the prize to the teacher and assembled guests.
A district official said the honor is based on classroom impact rather than popularity: "It's not a popularity contest. It's really, is this teacher impacting students and not just behavior, but also academics," the official said, describing the selection criteria.
The official announced that Coyle Chevrolet and Chris Coyle are providing a one-year lease for a new vehicle for the district-level Teacher of the Year and that the awardee will also receive a $500 check. "Not only will the district level teacher of the year get a $500 check, but they're also going to get a new vehicle to lease for a whole year," the official said.
A representative of the district education foundation said business partners’ gifts "are a shining example of when businesses support education; it also supports our community," praising community investment in teachers and students.
Miss Merrifield described the personal side of the recognition, saying she ran to tell her mother, who works in the school lunchroom, and described receiving messages from former students and families: "I got a Facebook message the other night ... she was so happy for you because she realized in your class that reading was okay." She said her motivation for teaching is the students: "Honestly, I love everything about teaching, but the kids is the most."
The presentation was celebratory and required no formal district action; the award and sponsor-supported lease were presented at the site. No vote or board decision was recorded in the provided transcript.
