The Professional Educators of Tennessee held their annual professional development conference, Leader U, at Trevecca University on Tuesday, June 18, 2019. The themes of the conference were "Educating the Whole Child" for teachers and "Changing School Culture" for administrators.

This year, a dean from MTSU in Murfreesboro was recognized for her role in education across the state. Lana Seivers- Dean of the MTSU College of Education and former Commissioner of Education, received the 2019 Friend of the Educator award.

The Commissioner of Education, Penny Schwinn, welcomed the attendees while Graham Hepburn from Quaver Music and Ryan Jackson from Maury County Schools were the keynote speakers. Educators from across the state learned how Music, Arts, Career and Technical Education, and Physical Fitness contribute to the education of the whole child.

The Professional Educators of Tennessee also gave out several awards:

2019 Teacher of the Year - Deborah Chancellor from Clarksville Montgomery Schools
2019 Administrator of the Year - Angie Markum from Ivy Academy, Chattanooga, TN
2019 Superintendent of the Year - Bill Heath from Lincoln County Schools
2019 Advocate of the Year - Becki Louden - Coffee County Schools
2019 Friend of the Educator Joni Bryan- Executive Director of the 917 Society
2019 Friend of the Educator Lana Seivers- Dean MTSU College of Education and former Commissioner of Education