Several Maryville College teacher candidates have been recognized as Smoky Mountain Teachers of Promise, an honor that highlights outstanding pre-service educators across the region and affirms their readiness to enter the profession with skill, purpose, and a passion for molding young minds.
This year’s Maryville College honorees — all seniors, including Meredith Wynn ’26 of Maryville, Stan Pennington ’26 of Sevierville, Malea Williams ’26 of Maryville, Allyson Crowley Cogdill ’26 of Maryville and Laura Diamond ’26 of Maryville — participated in the annual Smoky Mountain Teachers of Promise Summit, a multi-day professional development experience that brings together emerging educators and award-winning mentors from across the country.
Candidates recognized as Teachers of Promise are nominated by their institutions for their “all around excellence,” said Dr. Alesia Orren, professor of education who accompanied the students to the summit, which took place April 10 and 11 in Kodak, Tennessee. “This recognition indicates the respect, trust, and optimism placed in these future teachers to impact posterity through their work in education.”…