Ryan Mitchell, a second-grade teacher at Mills River Elementary, is the 2021 Henderson County Teacher of the Year. Mitchell received the honor at an award luncheon Thursday.
Students lined up throughout the parking lot that afternoon at the school to celebrate Mitchell. Cheering children waved streamers and chanted Mitchell s name as he walked throughout the parade.
Mitchell expressed gratitude to his fellow staff members and the students of HCPS for making it through a tough school year.
“I feel thankful to be around the students and co-workers I have; I don’t think we would have made it through this year without each other,” Mitchell said after Thursday’s celebration. “There are so many great people here and I really feel like it is not just an award for me, but an award for us for all we’ve gotten through this year.”