Lynn Gordon White Hardin Valley Elementary

Mary Sue Pruitt Northwest Middle

Lou Gallo West High

News Release

A Committee of educators, community representatives, and former teachers of the Year has designated three teachers from across Knox County to be Teachers of the year for 2008.

The winners portfolios will be sent to the East Tennessee Region of the State Department of Education for further competition and possible advancement to the state level. Six teachers from around the state will be named Tennessee Teachers of the Year. One of them will advance to the national competition.

This year the candidate's scores were very close. As a result, the following runners-up should be congratulated also.

Grades PreK-4

1st Runner-up

• Tina Holt, Ball Camp

2nd Runners-up

• Janet Reinholz
  Sequoyah
• Kristy Roop
  Adrian Burnett

3rd Runner-up

• Debora Hatch,
  Farragut Intermediate

4th Runnerup

• Summer Tucker
  Blue Grass

Grades 5-8

1st Runner-up

• Suzanne Stelling
  West Valley Middle

2nd Runner-up

• Karla Fultz
  A. L. Lotts

3rd Runner-up

• Brandi Self
  Mooreland Heights

4th Runnerup

• Joann Bost
  Whittle Springs

Grades 9-12

1st Runners-up

• Michael Blankenship
  Halls High
• John Valentine
  Fulton High

2nd Runner-up

• Debbie Sayers
  West High

3rd Runner-up

• Noelle Turner
  Bearden High

4th Runnerup

• Saralee Taylor
  Powell High

Lou Gallo’s teaching expertise was rewarded in 2003 with the prestigious Milkin  National Educator Award. Gallo earned a B.A. degree in Communications from the College of New Jersey and an M.S. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Tennessee. He began teaching at Bearden High School as in an intern in 1992-93 and joined the staff of South Doyle Middle the following year. Gallo has been at West High School since 1994 where he is the Social Studies Department Chair and teachers Advanced Placement European History, Honors World History, AP Psychology, and Film Studies. He serves on the Board of the Tennessee National Geographic Alliance and as a faculty consultant to the College Board along with professional development activities at West High.

“I have made a conscious decision to use various teaching methodologies in my classroom, said Gallo.  “My class is a plethora of lecture, discussion, cooperative learning projects, simulations, and debates.  These various methodologies appeal to a wide variety of students and expose them to a variety of learning techniques.” He makes heavy use of technology in the classroom.

Reflecting upon his career, Gallo recalls one of his most satisfying experiences.

“I encouraged a young man in my standard history class to try honors and AP,” explained Gallo. “He had not been recommended for the honors course, but I felt that he could excel as he was both intelligent and eager to learn.  Not only did he take my AP course and score a 5 on the exam, but he took several AP courses and received a full scholarship to a major university.  With some encouragement, he chose to work hard in high school and is now an outstanding university student.”

Personal Teaching Philosophy:

My teaching philosophy is actually quite simple. I teach the basics. I believe the best way for students to learn history and the skills necessary to be successful in a competitive university is to simply learn to read, listen, take notes, analyze, and reflect. My classroom is atypical because I do not focus solely on the basics or even the history that my students learn, but rather the way in which the material is presented.

In my fourteen years as an educator, I have been fortunate to have the most current technology to help history come alive for my students. From early PowerPoint presentations to the current use of a Smart Board, I have been able to present material in a very visual and entertaining manner.

I incorporate my own unique personality into my classes. I enjoy joking with students as well as telling them historical stories that are more entertaining than educational. Also, there is something about my personality that motivates students. For some reason they want to please me and in the process they are able to learn content, skills, and some life lessons.

Finally, I have made a conscious decision to use various teaching methodologies in my classroom. My class is a plethora of lecture/discussion, cooperative learning projects, simulations, and debates. These various methodologies appeal to a wide variety of students and expose them to a variety of learning techniques.