Jefferson’s Restaurant is pleased to announce the Nashville area Jefferson’s Teacher of the Year winners. Each Jefferson’s location in the Nashville area has honored a local winner:
- Brentwood: Danielle Turner teaches science at Ravenwood High School and has been teaching for 26 years. A long-time Brooklyn resident and NYC public school teacher, Mrs. Turner became a Tennessee educator in 2019. She was chosen for her kindness-first approach to being a teacher (and human!).
- Columbia: Emma Hoath teaches special education at the Horace O. Porter School and has been teaching for 12 years. Hoath is a mother of four, which has informed her approach to teaching: to show each of her students the same dedication and care she would show to her own. Hoath was chosen for her exceptional advocacy and inclusive classroom.
- Fairview: Tesha Goodgine teaches K-12 art at Fairview High School and has been teaching for 14 years. A lifelong lover of art, Mrs. Goodgine was inspired by her own art teachers to become a teacher—a decision she described as a calling. Mrs. Goodgine was selected for her compassion, welcoming classroom, and commitment to building meaningful relationships with her students.
- Murfreesboro: Kelly Strauss is an intervention specialist at Kittrell Elementary School and has been teaching for 28 years. She has also taught kindergarten and first grade. She has loved serving the Kittrell community over the years, from starting new events/traditions to serving in coaching or leadership roles. Ms. Strauss was chosen for her energy and her endless community spirit for the school she loves.
Each teacher was chosen from a highly competitive pool of nominations submitted by students and community members. The contest, launched in honor of National Teachers’ Day on May 5, aims to recognize a few of the many deserving teachers in the Nashville area. Jefferson’s selected Turner, Hoath, Goodgine, and Strauss as the Teachers of the Year for their welcoming, compassionate spirits.
“Our educators Turner, Hoath, Goodgine, and Strauss are all teachers that are beloved by their communities,” said Brandon Graham, Jefferson’s president. “Their nominators spoke across the board of their compassion-first teaching approach, their lifelong investment in their students, their warmth, and their advocacy. These teachers embody everything our communities value in their teachers and leaders, and we’re honored to recognize them for their outstanding dedication to their communities.”
Each teacher will receive a $500 gift card to Jefferson’s, and their achievement will be commemorated on the “Jefferson’s Teacher of the Year” plaque for all restaurant patrons to see.
Last year was the launch of the Teacher of the Year program, with Rachel Lytle, Will Walker, Angela Campbell, and Rickey Field honored as the Nashville metro 2025 Teachers of the Year.
This year is the sophomore run for the Jefferson’s Teacher of the Year award, launched as a companion program to Jefferson’s Coach of the Year award, which runs in the fall. The teachers’ initiative is open to teachers working with students of any age, and candidates could be nominated by students, parents and guardians of students, school officials, or other community members.