OAK RIDGE, Tenn. – Oak Ridge Schools has announced the district’s principal of the year in addition to the elementary, middle and high school teachers, novice teachers and teaching assistant of the year. In total, seven educators have been recognized this year.

Drayton Hawkins, in his third year as principal of Oak Ridge High School, has been named the Principal of the Year. In elementary, Kelly McDaniel, a second-grade teacher at Woodland Elementary, has been named Elementary Teacher of the Year; and Ryan Kent, a third-grade teacher at Willow Brook Elementary, has been named the Elementary Novice Teacher of the Year. For middle school, David Scott, a seventh-grade social studies teacher at Robertsville Middle School, has been named Middle School Teacher of the year; and Makenzie “Mazzie” Zawisza, an eighth-grade science teacher at Robertsville Middle School, has been named Middle School Novice Teacher of the Year. At the high school, Eric Mason, a welding teacher at Oak Ridge High School, has been named Secondary Teacher of the Year; and Mary Flynn has been named High School Novice Teacher of the Year. Lastly, the district chooses one teaching assistant from all grade levels to be recognized as the district’s Teaching Assistant of the Year, and this year’s honoree is Julie Lee, a teaching assistant in the library at Robertsville Middle School.

“Each of this year’s honorees are incredibly deserving of this recognition,” said Dr. Bruce Borchers, Superintendent of Oak Ridge Schools. “I appreciate that the state allows for recognition at each level—elementary, middle and high—so that we can shine a light on more of our great educators. Our teachers and principals are the difference-makers in our schools, and we are so fortunate to have the best-of-the-best here in Oak Ridge.”

 

Drayton Hawkins served as assistant principal of Oak Ridge High School for one year prior to being named principal in 2022. Under his leadership, Oak Ridge High School was named a 2024 Reward School and earned an “A” Letter Grade by the Tennessee Department of Education in 2023. Additionally, the Wildcat Manufacturing Program at Oak Ridge High School, which began the year he took over as principal, was awarded the 2024 Excellence in Education award by the Tennessee School Boards Association. Most recently, he was named the TSSAA A.F. Bridges Principal of the Year for District 2.  With 27 years in public education, eight as a teacher and 19 as an administrator, Hawkins has proven an incredible leader and positively impacted Oak Ridge High School from the day he stepped onto campus.

Kelly McDaniel has been a teacher for 17 years, spending the last two as a second-grade teacher at Woodland Elementary.  McDaniel’s students annually outperform state averages on their standardized testing, with more than 70% of her students demonstrating proficiency on the ELA benchmark in the Fall, and 64% demonstrating proficiency in Math. This year, McDaniel helped lead the committee that designed the Math and Literacy night for Woodland families and students, hosting guest readers, a nonfiction book walk, a scavenger hunt and activities for parents to learn how to support their learning at home.

Ryan Kent joined Willow Brook Elementary after graduating from Milligan University with his bachelor’s degree in Education in 2022, and his master’s degree in 2023. Kent brings an incredible amount of energy to the classroom and aligns each of his lessons with the district’s Core Values and mission to prepare every student for College, Career and Life success. Kent prides himself on being able to teach “future nurses, future hairdressers, future truck drivers, and future accountants,” and this year, he implemented a “Career slide” into his curriculum, spending a few minutes each day discussing a career that can tie into the lesson he is teaching. This helps connect his students and their lessons to life outside the classroom.

David Scott has taught for 35 years, all of which have been as a seventh-grade social studies teacher at Robertsville Middle School. A servant leader, Scott created the GIVE (Get Involved Value Everyone) Club eight years ago and annually has between 15-30 students that meet once per week and find ways to give back and serve others. Some of their projects include building and maintaining school gardens, crafting blankets from grocery bags for those experiencing homelessness, hosting parties for kids in after-school programs at local elementary schools, sewing dresses for children in Africa, and collecting eyeglasses for communities in South America. David is a relationship-driven teacher, and through kind words in the hallways, smiles, and coaching he has had an immeasurable impact on Robertsville students for over three decades.

Makenzie “Mazzie” Zawisza is a graduate of Oak Ridge Schools and joined Robertsville Middle School as an eighth-grade science teacher after graduating from Lee University in the Spring of 2024. In her first year as a teacher, Zawisza has shifted her students’ perspective to gauge their success by their growth, rather than their final grade. At the outset of each unit, students take a short quiz to gauge their current level of understanding and set goals for their growth when retaking the quiz at the end of the unit. This method allows students to engage in setting their learning targets, achieve goals and gain confidence, even if they do not score an “A” on the final quiz. In addition to promoting a learning environment where student ownership is valued, she uses exceptional classroom management strategies to ensure all students have a high level of engagement.

Eric Mason joined the school district in 2005 as a machine operator in the Maintenance and Operations Department before transitioning into the classroom and becoming a welding teacher at Oak Ridge High School in 2017. Mason has excelled at facilitating work placements for his students—either as work-based learning while enrolled at ORHS or into full-time job opportunities upon graduation. Most of his students earn welding certifications while in his program that allow them the opportunity to enter the workforce immediately upon graduation if they choose. Mason creates hands on learning experiences for his students and empowers them to follow their passions into fulfilling careers.

Mary Flynn has been a teacher in Tennessee Public Schools since 2020, serving in Special Education at Oak Ridge High School since spring 2024. Mary believes the success of her students encompasses not only academics but also social and emotional skills. One way she fosters growth in her students is to provide a weekly collaborative activity called ‘The Friday Challenge.’ Students pause their focus on reading and writing to engage in projects that foster their communication and collaboration skills. Through this challenge, students have demonstrated significant growth in their self-confidence-building skills that will serve them well in life after ORHS.

Julie Lee has been involved in Public Education for 24 years, spending the last 12 years as a Teaching Assistant in the library of Robertsville Middle School. Lee first worked alongside long time librarian Scot Smith, who served the district for 23 years before departing last year, and Lee was integral in supporting the library as his replacement transitioned into the role. Lee starts her day each morning hosting students in the library, offering them an opportunity to socialize in a productive way by playing board games, making bracelets, reading books or completing puzzles and crafts.

These educators will be submitted to the state to be considered as Regional Finalists in their areas, with a chance to be recognized as the state winners.

 

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