News

Schools name teacher of the year

Meghan Beckett Farmer was named 2013-14 teacher of the year.

By Bill Moss, Published: May 17, 2013

Don't expect silence in Meghan Beckett Farmer's classroom.

The first grade teacher at Mills River Elementary School leads a noisy classroom and is proud of it.
"You walk in my room there's hardly ever just silence," she said. "It's filled with little chatters and little discoveries always."
The loudness of learning works.

Farmer was named Henderson County's teacher of the year Friday during an annual Award Luncheon at the Hendersonville Country Club during which top teachers from all 23 schools also were honored.
A 2001 graduate of West Henderson High School, Farmer attended Balfour Elementary School and Rugby Middle School. She graduated in 2001 from West Henderson High School and went on to earn an education degree from Appalachian State University. She's been at Mills River for three years.
She and her husband, Nick Farmer, have a 2-year-old boy, Xander.
"I use the hands-on approach, making it fun, building a relationship with them from the start — families and students," she said, summing up the secrets to her success. "Building a relationship with them is key, first and foremost, and then individualizing instruction for them, differentiating (instruction) to their level, teaching in small groups."

“It is such an honor to have this award. I was absolutely blown away,” Farmer, who admitted to "rambling when I get nervous," told the gathering at the lunch, which was sponsored by SunTrust Bank. “This is probably the best award I’ve ever been given. Henderson County is such a wonderful county to work at. I’ve been to several and I’m home now. I just want to say it’s all of you who inspire me on a daily basis. Every time we have meetings together I’m just blown away by every teacher who works here, all the administrators. I just want to say thank you for your support, thank you keeping me inspired and keeping me on my toes and making me be the best teacher that I can be.”

Other 2013-14 teachers of the year were Holly Duncan, Apple Valley Middle School; Collette Levi, Atkinson Elementary School; Martina Zinn, Balfour Education Center; Audrey Shemesh, Bruce Drysdale Elementary School; Holly English, Clear Creek Elementary School; Laura McCall, Dana Elementary School; Neil Cawlfield, Early College High School; John Johnston, East Henderson High School; Angelia King, Edneyville Elementary School;; Maria Gass, Etowah Elementary School; Kim McMinn, Flat Rock Middle School; Kelly Jones, Fletcher Elementary School; Susan Phillis, Glenn C. Marlow Elementary School; Karen Parrish, Hendersonville Elementary School; Bob Gilbert, Hendersonville High School; Thomas Bushe, Hendersonville Middle School; Kimberly Medlin, Hillandale Elementary School; David Mains, North Henderson High School; Cheryl Hunter, Rugby Middle School Julia C. Holbert, Sugarloaf Elementary School; Maria Pryor, Upward Elementary School; and Michelle Edwards, West Henderson High School.

Keynote speaker Will Overstreet, the student body at East Henderson High School, admitted to being nervous about his speech.

"I can get up and lead a pep rally in front of a thousand students at East Henderson," he said, "but when I was asked to give a speech in front of administrators and English teachers, I know you guys are going to nitpit my grammar."

Teachers have great influence. They are great motivators, he said, and they get less gratitude than they deserve.

"I don't know how many students come up to you and say thank you but you guys deserve a thousand thank yous for everything you do," he said.