Hamilton County Schools teacher Brittany Haynes of Loftis Middle School is The Coolidge National Medal of Honor Heritage Center’s 2024 Katie Fields Bell Teacher Fellow recipient.
The Heritage Center presented the award to Haynes during its recent Celebration of Valor attended by Medal of Honor Recipient Britt Slabinski. Supported by the Fields and Bell families, the center’s Teacher Fellowship Program included 19 teacher fellows from Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama this year.
“We believe education is a community effort, and we see it as our duty to support both teachers and students throughout the learning process,” says Maranda Wilkinson, director of education at the Heritage Center. “We launched our Teacher Fellowship Program last year as a means of connecting educators to the stories of Medal of Honor recipients and supporting their efforts to weave recipient stories and the values associated with the medal into [their] lessons.”
The Heritage Center’s Teacher Fellowship Program is a yearlong commitment. Fellows participate in book studies, field trips, lessons, activity crafting and other professional learning opportunities throughout the year and are compensated for their time.
The program culminates with the fellows hosting educator workshops at the Heritage Center, where they introduce the lessons and activities they’ve crafted.
“Each year, we select an outstanding teacher fellow as the Katie Fields Bell Teacher Fellow in honor of Katie Fields Bell, the late wife of General B.B. Bell. She was dedicated to supporting children’s education, and when she saw a need, she took action,” says Wilkinson.
Naming an awardee this year was far from easy and required painstaking efforts, Wilkinson continues, as this year’s cohort consists of passionate educators who care about their students and content.
Haynes crafted a lesson based on a fifth grade Trail of Tears standard. She included Medal of Honor Recipient Dwight Birdwell, a member of the Cherokee Nation and attorney, and worked to connect students to a career role – law clerk.
“Brittany poured herself into this program,” says Wilkinson.
The Heritage Center presented several other awards during its celebration, including:
• Above & Beyond: Jessica Holloway, Becky Dubose, Hamilton County Schools
• Big Stories: Linda Moss Mines, Rita Lorainne Hubbard, Hamilton County historians
• Big Energy: Bailee Cox, Hamilton County Schools, Scott Saunders, Heritage Center Historical Interpretation
• Big Impact: Annette Johnson, Franklin County School District
“This recognition is not given lightly,” says Gen. B.B. Bell. “These teachers are true professionals. Katie was an advocate for educational opportunities, and I’m proud there are educators who share her passion for elevating others.”
Learn more about the Heritage Center at www.MOHHC.org.