Second grade teacher Morgan Rankin has been named the 2022 Tennessee State Teacher of the Year. Photo credit: WJHL
It is always a pleasure to share stories about outstanding educators who have earned recognition for their work. One of these is Morgan Rankin, who has been named the 2022 Tennessee State Teacher of the Year.
Morgan teaches second grade at South Side Elementary School in Johnson City. She has worked at the school for seven years. She came to Tennessee in 2014 from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, where she taught kindergarten.
“I’m always looking for those hands-on ways that are gonna get those kids excited and hooked in the learning,” revealed Morgan. “Kids by nature are really curious, inquisitive, and often really driven on their own to seek out information. The best part of my job is I get to be a part of steering that in specific directions,” she continued. Morgan encourages her students to be strong readers, to ask questions, and above all else, be kind. “The things we are doing now are shaping them into who they are going to be as adults,” the honored teacher asserts. “I think that is an incredible opportunity.”
In addition to her work in the classroom, Morgan is the founder of South Side School’s Genius Hour, an inquiry-based learning club for students modeled after Google’s 20% Project.
As if all this were not enough, Morgan serves as an active member of the Technology Teacher Leaders in Johnson City Schools. In this role, she mentors other educators on the use of technology in the classroom. She is also is a founding member of the Blue Ridge Literacy Project, a program that delivers professional development in research-based literacy practices to Tennessee teachers. She has been a Technology Teacher Leader in her district since 2016.
Throughout her career as a literacy specialist and elementary educator, Morgan has been committed to instilling a love of reading and inquiry-based learning in all students. She believes that all children can learn and grow academically, socially, and emotionally in a warm and welcoming classroom environment that provides hands-on, student-centered learning.
