Dyer County Schools announce Teachers of the Year

“All of our teachers work hard day after day to educate our students,” stated Dyer County School Director Cheryl Mathis. “These teachers stand out because they were chosen by fellow educators for being the shining stars of their schools. I am very proud of each of these teachers and I thank them for all that they do and for going above and beyond for our students!”

Christina VanHooser:

Congratulations to Christina VanHooser for being selected as one of the Teachers of The Year for Dyer County High School.

Christina’s VanHooser’s career in education began with Caddo Parish Schools in Shreveport, Louisiana after receiving her B.S. in Secondary Education English at Northwestern State University. During her eight-year tenure with Caddo, she served as an English teacher, special education teacher and school counselor. She was awarded 2008-2009 Huntington High School Teacher of the Year and 2013-2014 Alexander Learning Center Teacher of the Year. Knowing the importance of continuing education and having a strong desire to build better relationships with her students, Christina dually enrolled in both Northwestern State University and Louisiana Tech University graduate programs to obtain a Master’s in Counseling and Guidance and add-on certification in special education.

After moving to Tennessee in 2016, she continued her work in special education and counseling. In 2021, she joined the DCHS family and currently teaches English I and Reading RTI. Christina is a member of the PBIS and RTI teams, participates on the School Improvement Plan committee, and serves as a sophomore class sponsor. Last summer, she was employed as an Upward Bound Instructor for Dyersburg State Community College. When not in her classroom, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, listening to true-crime podcasts, gardening, and cuddling with her four fur babies: Taffy, Dexter, Gabby and Teddy.

VanHooser had this to say about being selected as one of the Teachers of the Year, “I am incredibly honored to be selected Teacher of the Year by my colleagues, but I am even more honored to work for such a supportive school system. DCHS is my home away from home, and I am proud to be a member of the Choctaw family.”

Rachelle Reid:

Congratulations to Rachelle Reid for being selected as one of the Teachers of The Year for Dyer County High School.

Reid earned her Bachelors in Secondary Education-Mathematics from UT Martin and her Masters in Education Theory and Practice from Arkansas State University. She is certified 6-12 math. This is her fourth year teaching Geometry at DCHS. Additionally, she is the Color Guard instructor for the DCHS Marching Band. Reid has a dog, named Henry, at home.

“I was honestly shocked when I won Teacher of the Year,” stated Reid. “This is the first year I qualified for this award but I did not think I would get it. It is such an honor and I am just so thankful my colleagues chose me. Thank you to everyone! I would not be the teacher I am today if it weren't for all the help and guidance from everyone at Dyer County High School.”

Ashlyn Bookout:

Congratulations to Ashlyn Bookout for being selected as one of the Teachers of The Year for Three Oaks Middle School.

Bookout is a sixth grade Math teacher in her fifth year of teaching at Three Oaks Middle School. During her time at TOMS, Bookout has been the 6th grade Team Leader, served on the Positive Behavior Intervention Team, the Technology Team and the Math Textbook Adoption Committee, as well as served as a coach. Bookout is dedicated to making sure her students are successful at every step of the way.

“To be chosen as Teacher of the Year is an honor that took me completely by surprise,” stated Bookout. “I work hard every day to ensure that my students are mastering the skills they need in order to succeed, not only in the classroom, but also in the real world. Not only do I focus on the growth and achievement of my students, but also the building of relationships with each and every one of them. I am pleased to know that my colleagues are aware of the time I dedicate to my students. They also see the relationships I build with the children and how much I truly care."

Torrie Ray:

Congratulations to Torrie Ray for being selected as one of the Teachers of The Year for Northview Elementary School.

Ray is an eighth grade ELA teacher at Northview Middle School. She has been teaching for 20 years at Northview for her career as a teacher. Ray and her husband, John, have three daughters.

“I am and always have been an avid reader,” stated Ray. “This is one of the main reasons I chose this profession. To pass along the love of reading and learning, I feel honored, valued, and encouraged to be selected as Northview's Teacher of the Year.”

Monica Robbins:

Congratulations to Monica Robbins for being selected as one of the Teachers of The Year for Holice Powell Elementary School.

Robbins is a third grade teacher at Holice Powell Elementary School. She has been teaching at Holice Powell for the past 22 years where she has taught first, second, third and fourth grades. Currently, Monica serves on the Leadership Team at Holice Powell as well as the Family and Community Involvement Committee. Robbins tutors before school as part of the KEYS Program. She is part of the district math textbook adoption committee this school year. At the state level, Robbins was named to the Tennessee Textbook Commission this spring. During the summer, she worked for the Tennessee Department of Education as an item and content reviewer for the third grade TCAP Reading/Language Arts assessment. In November, she presented at the Tennessee Science Teacher Association’s annual conference in Murfreesboro. Robbins is also a December graduate of the West Teach Class of 2022.

Robbins is married to Jeff Robbins and they have one daughter, Emma, who is a junior at Arkansas State University. Robbins and her family attend Finley Baptist Church.

“I am humbled and honored to be selected as Holice Powell’s Teacher of the Year,” Robbins stated. “I am thankful for all the support I have received from the community, my colleagues both past and present, my students and their families, the Dyer County School System, and my own family over the past 22 years. As a little girl, I always wanted to be a teacher and I have loved living out my dream in my hometown.”

Melissa Yarbro:

Congratulations to Melissa Yarbro for being selected as one of the Teachers of The Year for Fifth Consolidated Elementary School.

Yarbro is married to Guy Yarbro, has two daughters, Madelyn and Miranda Saye, and a sweet puppy named Sully. Yarbro grew up in Dyersburg and graduated from Dyersburg High School in 1988. She then attended Middle Tennessee State University where she received a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. This is her 29th year of teaching. She started her teaching career at Halls Elementary before moving to East Tennessee where she taught at Kingston Elementary for 11 years. After moving back to Dyersburg, she taught at Northview Middle School and Three Oaks Middle School before teaching fifth grade at Fifth Consolidated.

“I currently teach third grade at Fifth Consolidated Elementary. What inspires me to teach is the fulfillment I receive when I see students truly begin to love learning,” stated Yarbro.

Renea Pickard:

Congratulations to Renea Pickard for being selected as one of the Teachers of The Year for Newbern Elementary School.

Pickard is a 2006 graduate of the University of Memphis with bachelor’s in elementary education. She has taught for 16 years at NES, 12 being in first grade and these last four being in third grade. She is actively involved in many projects and committees at school, including the KEYS program, attendance committee, parent night involvements, community outreaches, and planning special days such as field day, fall fest and others. She serves as host each year for NES family breakfast that honors the graduating seniors of the faculty. She has been a part of the PBIS behavioral committee, leadership committee, STEAM bus committee and yearbook committee.

During her off time, she and her husband Kris love to travel and spend time with family and friends. Their cat, Boots, and 16 chickens occupy their time at home. They also enjoy serving the community through their church.

“I enjoy dipping into my creative side for tasks such as the painting for Sorghum Valley Christmas and decorating for various events,” stated Pickard. “In addition, I also work for our Summer Enrichment Program. Throughout my teaching career, I have been honored to have many opportunities to lead in-service for our county teachers as well as present at state conferences. One of my favorite reasons for being so involved in each of these events is knowing that we are making a difference and creating lasting impressions for not only our students, but also their families. Being an educator is the greatest calling of all. It is more than just teaching facts, skills, and standards to my students. It's letting them explore our world and be themselves while fostering a love for each other. I am beyond proud of the accomplishments of all of my students, past and present. Having them come to me now and letting me know that they felt love in our classroom is the greatest feeling of all.”

I am honored to be named Teacher if the Year for Newbern Elementary School,” Pickard added. “To me, being a teacher means that I am just one small piece of a larger puzzle that makes up our students and community. It takes each of us doing our part to create a better tomorrow for our students. I am truly blessed to be part of the NES family, and am thankful for each life, student, parent, faculty and staff, that I have had an opportunity to touch.”

Crystal Lock:

Congratulations to Crystal Lock for being selected as one of the Teachers of The Year for Finley Elementary School.

Lock is a third grade teacher at Finley Elementary School. She has been teaching for 21 years, 19 of those years at Finley.

“FES is where my heart lies,” Lock stated. “I have dedicated my career to making sure that the students that pass through my classroom know that they are loved and that I will always be one of their biggest supporters. I have poured my love for science and STEM into all students at Finley. Promoting STEM in early education is a passion of mine. Being selected as Teacher of the Year is an honor. I am so thankful for my school family. We are a team. I feel privileged to represent Finley Elementary School and even more privileged to be known as a ‘Finley Teacher’.”

Robbie Eddings:

Congratulations to Robbie Eddings for being selected as one of the Teachers of The Year for Trimble Elementary School.

Eddings graduated from The University of Tennessee at Martin in the spring of 1992 with a Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction and began her teaching career the following fall as a Kindergarten teacher at Yorkville School in Gibson County. Six years later she was hired by Dyer County to teach at Trimble School were she has taught kindergarten, first, second and, for the last ten years, third grade. At Trimble School, in addition to teaching, she leads art classes and is site director for the Trimble's KEYS Program. This being her 31st year to teach, the subject of retirement often comes up; however, she stated she cannot imagine leaving the classroom or the students that she loves so much just yet!

Eddings lives in Kenton with her husband of 27 years, Larry, who is a math teacher, coach, and preacher. Together they have three children. Their oldest, Kobe, is married to the former Bethany Morris of Bradford and owns Greener Logging Company out of Rutherford. Trajan, their middle child, is an eighth-grader at Rutherford School and their daughter, Micah Jordan, is a fourth-grader at Trimble School. She is proud that all three of her children have gotten to begin and end their formative elementary school years with her at Trimble School.

Eddings very humbly accepts the Trimble Teacher of the Year Award knowing that the quality of her as an educator is only as exceptional as the many outstanding educators and support staff that surround her.