Cheering on her classroom family

Danielle Blaylock says the best part of teaching is the love her students give back.

The Bobby Ray Memorial Elementary second-grade teacher has been named Week 6’s First National Bank Teacher of the Week by readers of the Main Street Journal. Her selection marks four straight weekly winners from Bobby Ray.

Blaylock is in her eighth year teaching second grade. A McMinnville native, she studied through Motlow State’s 2+2 program before graduating from Tennessee Tech University with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. She also works with students in Bobby Ray’s 21st Century after-school program and serves as an assistant cheer coach for the Bobby Ray Stars.

Blaylock’s own fifth-grade teacher at Hickory Creek, Lisa Mason, helped inspire her to enter the profession.

“She taught me that teachers could be pretty cool, too,” Blaylock said. More than that, Mason showed her how much a teacher can shape a student’s life. Blaylock said she hoped to offer her own students the same feeling of being seen, loved and encouraged.

For Blaylock, teaching extends beyond lessons in the classroom. She said she wants each year’s students to feel like part of a classroom family and to know they have someone in their corner, even after they move on.

“The most rewarding part of being a teacher is the love your students give back to you,” she said. “Walking down the hall feeling like a rock star because of all the love, hugs and excitement they show you is truly the best feeling!”

The First National Bank Teacher of the Week contest is presented by First National Bank of Middle Tennessee, with support from Smooth Rapids, Diamond Jewelry Company, Phillips Sales and Service and Graves Family Pharmacy. Weekly winners are removed from subsequent ballots and become eligible for the Teacher of the Year contest in the spring.

To vote for the next Teacher of the Week, follow this link: