Siema Swartzel.For the fourth consecutive year, a Cleveland City School teacher has been named a finalist for the 2016-2017 Tennessee Teacher of the Year award.
Siema Swartzel, a music teacher at Arnold Memorial Elementary School for the past six years, was selected by a panel of professional educators across the state of Tennessee, according to a news release from Cleveland City Schools.
“[Swartzel] is a tremendous educator and truly loves our students. She exemplifies the art of teaching by balancing the needs of the school, curricular content and student engagement in all of her lessons,” said Mike Chai, principal at Arnold Memorial Elementary School, in the statement. “We are proud to have her as a part of our school and system.”
Swartzel and the other eight finalists will have the the opportunity to contribute “insight, feedback, and advice on issues that impact teachers and students across the state” as a member of the commissioner’s Teacher Advisory Council, according to Ashley Ball, spokeswoman for the Tennessee Department of Education.
Tennessee Education Commissioner Candice McQueen said this group of finalists brings diverse perspective to the department’s work.