Great leadership is needed in every corner of our community — from the boardroom to the classroom. Educators are essential leaders as their impact and investment is critical to our city’s future success. In response to a gap in citywide investment in educators, New Memphis, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to develop, activate, and retain talent in the city, created the annual Educators of Excellence Award in 2018. Each year, distinguished educator applications are reviewed and the five exceptional honorees receive a $1,500 award made possible in partnership with the Crews Family Foundation.
“As a former educator myself, I always love hearing the stories of educators and seeing the unique perspective they bring,” says Erin Wendell, New Memphis director of educator and collegian programs. “Reading our Educators of Excellence applications annually brings me joy and reinvigorates my commitment to serve teachers in Memphis. While I wish we had endless resources to recognize everyone doing great work in classrooms across Memphis, I’m grateful to highlight these five incredible educators this year. None of them are in it for glory, and yet they all deserve our praise. I hope our community takes time to learn these winners’ stories and feels inspired to show some love to other educators in our city.”
It’s paramount to recognize the contribution of our best educators, to learn from their experiences, and to support them in their growth. Their work is transformational to students, fellow educators, and Memphis as a whole. With a new school year kicking off, New Memphis unveiled their 2024 Educators of Excellence Award honorees at a co-branded Spillit Center Stage event on August 22nd, focused on educator voices to the theme of “Marathon, Not a Sprint.” Learn more about the 2024 New Memphis Educators of Excellence below and get to know previous award winners at newmemphis.org.
Devon Harkins, Primary Lead Teacher at Libertas School of Memphis
Devon (she/her) is currently a primary lead Montessori teacher at Libertas School of Memphis. She came to Memphis through Teach for America in 2016 and has been in the classroom teaching kindergarten and pre-K ever since. Devon received her Montessori credentials in 2022 and now is a trainer herself with Libertas’ own Montessori teacher training program.
Elisabeth Bogart Black, sixth grade social studies teacher at Grizzlies Prep Charter School
Elisabeth (she/her) is in her eighth year of teaching social studies in Memphis. Currently working at Grizzlies Prep Charter School, she serves as grade level lead, debate coach, and a mentor teacher for the Memphis Teacher Residency. Elisabeth is a 2022 Barbara Rosser Hyde award winner and her debate team are reigning Metro Memphis Urban Debate League Champions. She received her bachelor of arts in history at McGill University and her master’s of education at Johns Hopkins University.
LaDerrick Williams, seventh grade science teacher at Freedom Preparatory Academy – Whitehaven Middle School at Brownlee
LaDerrick (he/him) is currently a seventh grade science teacher at Freedom Preparatory Academy – Whitehaven Middle School at Brownlee and serves as the science department lead, sixth and seventh grade science content writer, and mentor teacher for the Memphis area Man Up Teacher Fellowship. He received his bachelor of science in biology & pre-medicine from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, his master’s of education in secondary education through Relay Graduate School of Education, and is currently in his fourth year attending Liberty University as a candidate for doctor of education in educational leadership. LaDerrick has 17 years of service in education and has participated in various professional cohorts such as Memphis Teaching Fellows, KIPP Teacher Leader program, and Relay Graduate School of Education, where he served as an assistant professor of practice immediately after his graduation in 2017.
Paige Kusmec, fourth grade ELA teacher at Compass Berclair
Paige (she/her) teaches fourth grade at Compass Berclair and is in her third year teaching in Memphis. She specializes in teaching multilingual learners and has previously taught first, second, fourth, and fifth grade multilingual learner students. She serves as a mentor teacher for the Memphis Teacher Residency and has obtained her master’s degree in urban education from Union University. She is a proud alumna of the New Memphis Stride cohort.
Taylor Price, ninth grade English teacher at Memphis East High School
Taylor (she/her) teaches English and AP African American studies at East High School and is in her third year of teaching. A proud Memphis native, she is an alumna of Bellevue Middle School and Middle College High School. She is currently the English language arts (ELA) master teacher for East High and serves as a mentor teacher for Memphis Teacher Residency. She holds a master’s degree in urban education from Union University, is a New Memphis Stride alumna, and is currently earning her master’s certification as a reading specialist with Memphis Literacy Institute and Christian Brothers University.
