10/14/2026
Congratulations to our very own Ms Katherine Palk!!
Humphreys County Schools is proud to announce that Katherine Palk, Spanish teacher at Waverly Central High School, has been selected as the 2026–2027 Humphreys County Novice Teacher of the Year! 🍎📚
The Novice Teacher of the Year recognition celebrates outstanding educators who are early in their teaching careers but are already making a meaningful difference in the lives of students. To qualify, candidates must be full-time, certified teachers who have completed more than 10 months but less than 30 months of classroom teaching experience. Candidates are expected to demonstrate exceptional dedication to teaching, innovative instructional practices, a positive impact on student achievement, leadership, and the ability to inspire a love of learning.
Katherine teaches Spanish I and II at Waverly Central High School, where she has demonstrated remarkable dedication, adaptability, and a commitment to helping students succeed.
Early in her teaching career, Katherine stepped into the Spanish program during a period of unexpected transitions. Rather than simply continuing instruction, she worked to identify learning gaps, rebuild foundational skills, and establish consistency for her students.
One of Katherine’s most meaningful contributions has been strengthening the Spanish program while helping students develop a deeper appreciation for other cultures. She introduced “Culture Day,” an opportunity for students to explore the traditions, customs, and perspectives of Spanish-speaking countries. She also hopes to establish a Culture Club to expand these learning opportunities throughout the school.
Katherine believes learning should extend beyond the classroom. She has taken students into the community to practice their Spanish in authentic situations, including a visit to a Mexican restaurant where students interacted with Spanish-speaking community members. She also uses her language skills to help bridge communication between the school and Spanish-speaking students and families.
For Katherine, success is about more than grades and test scores. It is seeing students confidently use Spanish in everyday conversations, recognize the language outside of school, and discover that learning another language opens doors to new relationships and perspectives.
As Katherine shared in her application:
“I want my students to understand that learning a new language allows them to connect with people and understand perspectives different from their own.”
Katherine was selected by a district selection committee following a review of applications highlighting instructional effectiveness, contributions to school culture, and connections between classroom learning and the community.
As the district winner, Katherine will advance to the Tennessee Novice Teacher of the Year selection process, where she will have the opportunity to represent Humphreys County Schools at the state level!
Please join us in congratulating Katherine Palk on this outstanding achievement! We are proud of her dedication to students, her contributions to Waverly Central High School, and the positive impact she is already making in the teaching profession.
Congratulations, Katherine! Humphreys County Schools is proud of you!
