May 24, 2005
Contact: Rita Mitchell, University Editor
Gulledge receives Tennessee Distinguished Higher Education Award
Martin, Tennessee - Dr. Brenda Gulledge, University of Tennessee at Martin chair of the Department of Educational Studies, recently was named recipient of a Tennessee Education Association Distinguished Educator Award. The presentation was made at TEA's annual awards luncheon in Nashville. The Tennessee Book Company co-sponsors the awards.
Selected for the Distinguished Higher Education Award, Gulledge also serves as assistant professor of education. She was nominated by the Weakley County Education Association.
Gulledge earned a bachelor of science degree at Tusculum College. She completed her educational studies at East Tennessee State University, where she earned a master of arts and a doctor of education degrees. She has spent the past 41 years in education serving the students of Tennessee in nearly every phase of education - from public school teacher to university professor.
The honoree's experiences as a classroom teacher enable her to share with students ideas, practical knowledge, and the reality of the challenges for today's pre-service teachers. Her concentration is on research-based methods involving students in the learning process.
As noted in the luncheon program, Gulledge noted the importance of her first teachers - her late parents - who demonstrated "the concern, work ethic and pride that she would take with her to the classroom."
She also reflected "that in order to teach, one must also learn that the culture of teaching is such that change and a constant need to learn must always be present. My summers and weekends often are spent in attending or presenting at conferences, workshops or staff development sessions to update and improve my skills as a teacher. No matter how effective I am, there is something else to learn."
Gulledge is a former Tennessee Elementary Teacher of the Year and Tennessee Elementary Principal of the Year.
The Tennessee Education Association is the state's largest professional organization representing more than 55,000 elementary and secondary teachers, school administrators, education support personnel, higher education faculty and students preparing to become teachers.
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