Missy Testerman was named the 2024 National Teacher of the Year. Testerman graduated from ETSU and now teaches and inspires students in grades K-8 in Rogersville, Tennessee.

“I always wanted to be a teacher. When I was a child, I had excellent teachers and they inspired me to want to be like them and make people feel the way they made me feel, which was the driving force behind it,” stated Testerman.

The National Teacher of the Year Program is run by the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO). This program provides a platform for exceptional educators to elevate issues that affect teachers and their students, expand their leadership roles and inform policy and practice. It also celebrates teachers as one of the most impactful figures in the lives of every student.

Testerman is a teacher at Rogersville City Schools who specializes in ESL for students K-8. She helps guide students whose first language is not English and teaches them how to overcome the language barrier. Before becoming an ESL teacher, she taught first and second-grade students.

Headshot photo of Missy Testerman. (Contributed/ntoy.ccsso.org)

“Being the National Teacher of the Year is such an honor. To realize that there are three and a half million teachers and I have the opportunity to be their voice is almost overwhelming in a positive way. I am honored and humbled to have this opportunity,” stated Testerman.

As Teacher of the Year, Testerman will spend a year advocating for teachers and students around the world. This opportunity will allow Testerman to be the voice for teachers and display the message that teachers are the experts in the classroom and play vital roles for students. Another goal for her is to advocate for diversity and inclusion for students across the country.

For Testerman, this is a blessing and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. She says to remember that it takes everyone to work and communicate together to ensure that students can succeed and create a good future for themselves, which is the overall goal for all teachers and students. Congratulations Mrs. Testerman, on being chosen as Teacher of the Year.

“The joy of teaching has always been greater than the number of challenges I’ve encountered. I still find a lot of joy in helping kids unlock that love for learning that hopefully they’ll keep their entire life,” stated Testerman.

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