Updated May 9, 2019

Beth Marks, a sixth grade English Language Arts teacher at Unity School in Lincoln County has been named the South Central Teacher of the Year.

As a top middle school teacher in the south central region finalist, she will compete for the Tennessee Teacher of the Year award.

In order to be considered for the state-level award, a Teacher of the Year candidate must be an outstanding teacher, demonstrate leadership skills and exceptional gains in student achievement, along with a myriad of other qualifications.

Marks, a native of Giles County, knew she wanted to become a teacher from the time she was kindergarten age. She began her career in Giles County, where she had attended school.

In Giles County, she taught for nine years, and won District Teacher of the Year. Later, she became assistant principal at Unity for two years, but decided to go back to the classroom because she missed the close relationship to the students.