TMP Staff Reports
Posted: Thursday, August 13, 2009 3:12 pm

Barbara Hueber, Tammy Sandlin and Marilyn Spencer were all honored at various conferences this summer for their teaching at Rutherford County Schools. Photo submitted.

Rutherford County teachers were busy in July receiving awards at conferences on MTSU’s campus.

It began with the Career and Technical Education Summer Conference for Tennessee Teachers and ended with Tennessee Association of Teachers for Family and Consumer Sciences luncheon.

At the Technical Education Summer Conference for the Tennessee Association of Career and Technical Education, Marylin Spencer, the “FACS” Family and Consumer Sciences teacher from Oakland High School received the TACTE Outstanding New Teacher Award.

"Marilyn Spencer has been a teacher at Oakland High School for the past three years. During this time, she has been instrumental in bringing a job shadow program in conjunction with John Pittard Elementary so that our students can gain class room experience to assist them in making career decisions,” OHS Principal Bill Spurlock said.

“More important than the awards, of course, is her ability to turn students on to Early Childhood Education,” he added. “Her caring attitude and superior knowledge of the subject make her effective with students at all levels of ability. In fact, she is especially diligent with students who have learning disabilities, those who historically have had major difficulties in classes."

Two other Rutherford County teachers walked away with two of the four awards presented at the Tennessee Association of Teachers for Family and Consumer Sciences luncheon presented in July at MTSU.

Tammy Sandlin, of Murfreesboro, was awarded the 2008-09 TATFACS Outstanding Community Service Award.

Sandlin has been at Smyrna High School for the last six years as the Culinary Arts Instructor and Advisor for Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America.

Sandlin’s students have competed in FCCLA STAR Events competitions: six years at district, five years at state and three years at nationals and four students winning scholarships to further their Culinary Arts Profession.

Sandlin gives much of her success to four people that have played an important role in her teaching profession: retired professors Joyce Harrison and Mrs. Kathyrn Price, and the late Ernestine Reeder, all professors at MTSU in the Human Sciences Department and Rutherford County teacher Barbara Huebel.

Barbara Huebel, of Smyrna, received the 2008-09 TATFACS Teacher of the Year by the Tennessee Association Teachers of Family and Consumer Sciences.

Huebel is celebrating her 30th year as a Family and Consumer Sciences Teacher and Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America advisor.

She taught in Arkansas and Missouri before coming to Rutherford County where she taught Culinary Arts at Smyrna High School for 17 years. For the past six years Huebel has taught Teen Living at Rock Springs Middle School.