KINGSPORT, Tenn. – Beth Lee, an English Second Language (ESL) teacher at Kingsport City Schools has recently been named the Tennessee Teachers to Speakers of Other Languages (TNTESOL) 2016 Teacher of the Year – Eastern Region by TNTESOL.

The award honors and recognizes outstanding K-12 ESL teachers with a distinguished career in English language teaching and a history of service to students, schools, and communities.

“We are truly fortunate to have such a caring teacher as Beth Lee. She always goes above and beyond to do what is best for her students. TNTESOL could have not chosen a more worthy recipient for this honor,” said Dr. Lamar Smith, Kingsport City Schools Supervisor of Federal Programs.

Lee became interested in ESL when working in a summer Migrant Program at ETSU. She has taught Spanish and English as a Second Language (ESL) in Kingsport City Schools for the past 12 years. Prior to KCS, she taught English, Spanish and Accounting in private schools, other states and at Northeast State. In addition, she has taught preschool for eight years at First Baptist Church in downtown Kingsport.

“In accepting this award, I gratefully acknowledge excellent mentors past and present,” said Beth Lee. “I remain both humbled and blessed by the opportunity to teach my rich, beloved English language to students from all over the world. To live out the command of loving my neighbor as myself through teaching is a high honor.”

Lee earned a Bachelor of Arts degree, with a major in English, from Mississippi College, a Master of Arts degree, with a major in English, from Louisiana State University and a Master of Arts degree, with a major in English as a Second Language, from Carson Newman.

The 2016 TNTESOL Teacher of the Year award recipients include: Beth Lee (Eastern Region), Patricia Seyb (Central Region), Magda Sakann (Western Region/Overall) and Angela Rood (EOY Coordinator). For more information about TNTESOL, visit tntesol.org. 

Kingsport City Schools (KCS) is a public school district located in Kingsport, Tenn., serving students in Sullivan and Hawkins county. The district is comprised of 13 schools, including a Pre-K, eight elementary schools, two middle schools, one high school and a non-traditional school; with total enrollment over 7,100 students. The vision of Kingsport City Schools is to be, Student Focused … World Class.

KCS has been named the top school district in Tennessee as winner of the 2014 SCORE Prize District Award by the State Collaborative on Reforming Education (SCORE) and has earned the 2014 Achievement Award in the annual Excellence in Tennessee Recognition Program by the Tennessee Center for Performance Excellence (TNPCE).

For more information on KCS, visit k12k.com, listen live on WCSK 90.3 FM, The Voice of KCS, read our blog, We Are KCS, or call (423) 378.2100. We’re social too; follow us on Facebook (Kingsport City Schools), Twitter (@KCS_District) and check out our YouTube Channel (KPTSchools).

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