Jenny Kiesel, a dedicated educator at Lakeland Preparatory High School, is now a finalist for Tennessee Teacher of the Year. The selection process began several months ago when Kiesel was honored as Teacher of the Year for her school, then for the district, and subsequently for the regional area. She advanced through rounds of rigorous evaluations, including essay submissions, a video presentation, a resume, and a professional biography. Kiesel now stands among the top nine finalists in the state.
Kiesel holds a Bachelors in Natural Science and a Masters in Education. Currently in her second year teaching Biology and AP Environmental Science at Lakeland Preparatory, she previously taught at Germantown High School for 17 years. During her tenure at Lakeland, she has made significant contributions, including creating the biology curriculum, serving as PLC Lead, developing the yearbook program, starting the Lady Lions’ Basketball Program as Head Coach, and initiating the Track and Field program as the field event coach.
Kiesel is particularly proud of the growth in the Track program, which more than doubled its size this season, and her success in leading the Lady Lions basketball team to the regional tournament with ninth and tenth graders. She eagerly anticipates watching her players continue to develop athletically and socially. In her free time, Kiesel enjoys fundraising, reading, coaching, and spending time with her family, including her children Claire and Will, and her husband Bill. She has dedicated countless volunteer hours to raise funds for Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, contributing items such as rocking chairs for the infant unit.
Teaching has always been Kiesel’s lifelong dream. Her childhood gradebooks and lesson plans are cherished mementos of her early passion for education. She credits her love of teaching to the inspiration she received from her own dedicated teachers and hopes to similarly inspire future generations of educators.
Kiesel recently participated in an online interview, answering questions about her educational philosophy and experiences, and delivering a two-minute speech based on a given prompt. The finalists have all worked diligently to reach this stage. The state winners will be announced at a dinner in Nashville on August 23rd.
