MURFREESBORO, TN (WGNS) - Murfreesboro City Schools has a reason to cheer this week, and so do the families at Discovery School and Erma Siegel Elementary. Amy Jackson, the gifted specialist who serves students from kindergarten through sixth grade at both campuses, has been named the Middle Grand Division Teacher of the Year for 2026–27. It’s one of the highest honors awarded by the Tennessee Department of Education, and it shines a spotlight on a career built on curiosity, creativity, and a whole lot of heart.

Jackson first earned recognition earlier this year as the Mid‑Cumberland CORE Regional Teacher of the Year. From there, she advanced to statewide consideration, ultimately being selected as the top educator in the Middle Grand Division — a region that includes some of Tennessee’s most accomplished teachers. For Jackson, who has spent more than two decades helping children stretch their thinking and discover new ways to solve problems, the award feels like a celebration of the work she loves.

Colleagues describe her as the kind of teacher who sees potential everywhere — in the quiet student who doodles in the margins, in the child who asks a question no one else thought to ask, and in the kid who needs just a little encouragement to believe they’re capable of more. Her gifted‑education classrooms are known for hands‑on challenges, lively discussions, and a steady stream of “What if we tried this?” moments.

Families at both schools say Jackson has a gift for helping students feel seen. Whether she’s guiding a first‑grader through a logic puzzle or coaching a sixth‑grader through a complex research project, she brings the same enthusiasm and patience to every interaction. It’s no surprise her students often describe her class as the place where learning feels like an adventure.

Murfreesboro City Schools leaders praised Jackson’s dedication, noting that her work strengthens not only the gifted program but the broader academic culture across both campuses. Her influence reaches well beyond the classroom, shaping enrichment opportunities, supporting teachers, and helping build a community where critical thinking is part of everyday learning.

NewsRadio WGNS proudly salutes Amy Jackson — Discovery School and Erma Siegel’s own — as the Middle Grand Division Teacher of the Year. It’s a well‑earned honor for an educator who continues to inspire, challenge, and champion Murfreesboro’s young learners.