Title: Retired Educator
Location: Gatlinburg, Tennessee, United States
Kathryn Bresee McCarter, Retired Educator, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Educators for dedication, achievements, and leadership in English Education.
Mrs. McCarter’s distinguished career in education spanned more than five decades, culminating in her retirement from Sacred Heart Cathedral School in 2019. Her final professional role was as an English and history teacher at the school, where she spent over five years. During this time, Ms. McCarter focused on teaching grammar and literature and, during her last year, history. She also served as the National Junior Honor Society sponsor, further demonstrating her commitment to student engagement and academic excellence.
Before this final tenure at Sacred Heart Cathedral School, Mrs. McCarter taught English and reading in Knox County Schools from 1997 to 2013. Her dedication to positive student outcomes led to her recognition as one of the top 32 seventh-grade teachers in Tennessee according to Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Tests. Mrs. McCarter notably spent sixteen years at the new West Valley Middle School.
Mrs. McCarter’s earlier experience included serving as an adjunct instructor at Roane State Community College from 1995 to 1996. In this capacity, she taught motivated adult learners, an experience she found rewarding despite the challenges of balancing evening and weekend classes with family life.
Mrs. McCarter’s teaching journey began before she had children of her own when she taught at the Christian Academy of Knoxville (CAK). She instructed middle and high school students in English at CAK. This initial teaching role followed her first professional position as a youth director at a local Presbyterian church after college, which prepared her for working with young people in both religious and academic settings.
Mrs. McCarter was actively involved in philanthropic and community endeavors, including volunteering with Habitat for Humanity. In education, she served as a community representative on the research ethics committee at the University of Tennessee’s College of Veterinary Medicine, where she contributed to ethical oversight of research practices. She also volunteered as an art teacher for several years within Knox County Schools.
Mrs. McCarter’s creative pursuits included participation in numerous music and musical theater presentations during her time as a student at the University of Tennessee. As a member of Vol Chorus, she performed classical works, such as Haydn’s Creation. Her involvement in musical theater included roles in productions such as The Wizard of Oz, The Mikado, Dark of the Moon, a lead role in The Fantasticks, and Hello, Dolly!
With the Wesley Foundation and another student group at the University of Tennessee, she acted in small presentations, such as “Plays for Clowns in Christ.” In later years, Mrs. McCarter continued singing sacred works, including Handel’s Messiah, as part of Methodist and Presbyterian choirs. Writing endeavors by Mrs. McCarter included literature-based drama scripts for her students’ performance and a front-page article in the Knoxville News-Sentinel about one of her students. This lovely, accomplished student sadly had passed away from leukemia, and the article with a beautiful photograph of the student helped raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Throughout her career in the classroom, Mrs. McCarter’s expertise in student engagement and grammar became widely recognized, earning her the designation of a level five teacher and selection as a Talent Transfer Initiative candidate by the superintendent based on her students’ high TCAP scores. In addition, she was secretary of Mortar Board and was named a Torchbearer at the University of Tennessee, one of the institution’s highest honors. While a student the University, Mrs. McCarter was also named to Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi, Alpha Lambda Delta, Kappa Delta Pi and Pi Delta Phi academic honor societies.
In addition to being a Torchbearer and Phi Beta Kappa, one of Mrs. McCarter’s most significant honors was being voted Teacher of the Year by her colleagues at West Valley Middle School. This was a much-appreciated indication of her impact within her educational community.
Mrs. McCarter attributes her success to being a firstborn daughter with an innate sense of responsibility. Her beloved parents instilled in her the importance of hard work and learning, which became central to her professional philosophy. Looking ahead, Mrs. McCarter intends to remain active with church choirs, book clubs, and Alpha Delta Kappa, an education sorority while supporting family members who need assistance. She wants to visit family members and spend lots of time with family and friends. Mrs. McCarter hopes to be remembered for her personal faith, for genuinely caring about her colleagues and students, and for inspiring an appreciation for reading, language, and education among those she taught.
For more information, please visit:
Contact Ms. McCarter: