Tennessee's Teacher of the Year for 2016-17 is a Hamblen County seventh-grade instructor known for setting high expectations for his students.
Derek Voiles teaches English language arts at Lincoln Heights Middle School in Morristown.
The state Department of Education announced the winner Thursday night at an annual banquet in Nashville.
Voiles has taught six years in Hamblen County. He's also pursuing a doctorate degree at East Tennessee State University.
State Education Commissioner Candice McQueen called him "an excellent classroom teacher as well as a leader among his peers and in his community."
"Voiles is known for his ability to grow all of his students, especially those who are the furthest behind," a state release says. "In recent years, his classroom has become a 'teaching classroom' where educators from within Hamblen County, as well as surrounding districts, can observe with the intention to replicate his practices and results."
Voiles was also the Grand Division's East Tennessee winner.
Last year's Teacher of the Year was Cathy Whitehead, who teaches third grade at West Chester Elementary School in Henderson.
Two other finalists were recognized Thursday night.
Cord Martin, a music education and enrichment teacher at Whitthorne Middle School in Maury County, was recognized as Middle Tennessee's Grand Division winner.
Christy McManus teaches English language arts and social studies to fifth-graders at Chester County Middle School in Henderson. She was West Tennessee's Grand Division winner.
