Novice Teacher of the Year honorees (from left) Reagan Lowrie, Lauren Cardenas and Madisson Mantooth.
Three recent graduates of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga School of Education are being recognized early in their careers for the influence they are already making in Tennessee classrooms.
Lauren Cardenas, Reagan Lowrie and Madisson Mantooth have each been named Novice Teacher of the Year recipients in their respective school districts, an honor that recognizes full-time teachers in their first three years in the classroom who demonstrate excellence in instruction, professionalism and student engagement.
Two of the honorees teach in Hamilton County Schools, while the third teaches in Bradley County Schools.
Chris Brown, clinical experience coordinator in the UTC School of Education, said seeing multiple recent graduates earn the distinction at the same time speaks to the preparation they received during their residency and student teaching experiences.
“It means a lot to see them succeeding and doing well in education,” Brown said. “They commit a lot of their time here in residency to prepare to become teachers. It’s wonderful to see them being honored for the work that they do day in and day out and the time they commit to their craft.”
The Novice Teacher of the Year recognition is coordinated by the Tennessee Department of Education and begins at the school and district levels before advancing through regional and statewide selection.
Eligible teachers must have completed more than 10 months but fewer than 30 months in a Tennessee public or charter school classroom and must hold full certification.
Lowrie, a sixth-grade math teacher at Sale Creek Middle/High School, graduated from UTC in December 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in middle grades education. She said receiving the Novice Teacher of the Year honor has prompted reflection on the mentors who shaped her development as an educator.
“This award is incredibly meaningful to me and has been a reminder of the many moments and people who have shaped me into the educator I am today,” she said. “The professors and mentors I learned from during my time at UTC challenged me, supported me and modeled what it means to be an impactful, caring educator.”
She said her time at UTC continues to influence her classroom approach.
“My experiences throughout the program taught me the power of maintaining a positive mindset, not just for myself but for my students,” Lowrie said. “The lessons I learned at UTC continue to carry me, helping me approach challenges with optimism, encourage my students to do the same, and celebrate every step of their journey as learners.
“My goal is to provide my students with a learning environment that is just as supportive, inspiring and engaging as the one I experienced at UTC. As I continue to learn and grow on my journey as an educator, I am proud to represent the School of Education, to celebrate all of the amazing educators who have shaped it and those who will continue to shape the future.”
Originally from Houston, Texas, Lowrie came to UTC on a softball scholarship before a career-ending injury during her sophomore year changed her path.
“I decided to stay and finish out the program; I became a Moc at heart and couldn’t imagine finishing my degree anywhere else,” she said. “The School of Education has close ties with Hamilton County Schools, and after hearing about their induction program and new teacher supports, I knew I wanted to stay and start my teaching career here in Chattanooga—and I’m so glad I did.”
Madison Mantooth stands in her Bradley Central High School classroom.
Mantooth, who teaches English 10 and yearbook/journalism at Bradley Central High School, graduated from UTC in May 2024 with a bachelor’s degree in secondary education.
“I feel my time at UTC, specifically my clinical experiences coordinated by the School of Education, prepared me for the classroom in innumerable ways,” said Mantooth, who grew up in Polk County, Tennessee. “Without the guidance of the University’s English department and School of Education, I would not have been able to confidently begin my career as an educator.
“I am forever indebted to the many professors and teachers who poured into me during my time as a pre-service teacher,” she said, “and I know it is because of these mentors that I have been gifted the skills to pursue a career that is both challenging and rewarding.”
Mantooth said the award affirms the importance of mentorship during teacher preparation.
“I feel extremely honored to have received this award, and I know that it is a testament to the effectiveness of good mentorship for pre-service teachers,” she said.
Lauren Cardenas (photo by Angela Foster)
Cardenas, a music education graduate from Memphis, completed her degree at UTC in May 2024 and teaches general music for kindergarten through fifth grade at DuPont Elementary School. She was offered the role of interim music teacher at the school in April 2024—one month before UTC commencement—and transitioned into a full-time position at the start of the 2024-25 school year.
Shortly after beginning full-time duties, she was surprised by members of UTC’s Music Educators Social Society for the work she was doing in the DuPont classroom.
“It has been a phenomenal school to work at; my administrators, Tersheia Hayes and Leanne Chesney, inspire me to be a great educator, and I feel that they’ve taken every opportunity they could have to push me to be the best version of myself,” Cardenas said. “My students at DuPont are wonderful and I know how lucky I am to be surrounded by them every day.”
Cardenas said her time on campus played a defining role in her development as an educator.
“I look back at my time at UTC with so much fondness and gratitude,” she said. “Every opportunity that I took during my time at UTC led me to be the teacher that I am, and I am proud to represent our school.”
She said she was unaware she had been nominated for the honor by her mentor and school leadership.
“I had no idea that my wonderful mentor, Arlene Slaughter, and my administration had nominated me for Novice Teacher of the Year,” Cardenas said. “I still feel shell shocked with the honor that it is.
“I am grateful for the acknowledgement and am ready to share this success with the rest of my DuPont family. I believe that it is time that our school receives the recognition it deserves. I am an amalgamation of the teachers I’ve had throughout my life, the ones I work with every day.”
Brown said the recognition of all three graduates reinforces the School of Education’s focus on clinical preparation and sustained classroom experience.
“They’ve already completed the licensure process. They’ve already done the work,” Brown said. “It’s rewarding to see that effort recognized so early in their careers.”
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