On Saturday evening, members of the community gathered to honor four teachers who touched the lives of many students during their extraordinary careers in education.
At a special dinner and ceremony, these four teachers — two living and two deceased — joined the ranks of the Elizabethton/Carter County Educators Hall of Fame.
The Hall of Fame was founded 11 years ago as a way to honor members of the community who spent their careers inspiring young lives. It was decided from the beginning that each year one living and one deceased teacher from the county school system as well as one living and one deceased teacher from the city school system would be inducted into the Hall of Fame. Each year, members of the community are asked to nominate teachers for the honor and the Carter County Imagination Library Board is tasked with the duty of selecting the honorees for that year.
“This is something this community does that not many do,” said Josh Smith, who hosted the induction ceremony. “We put a tremendous value on our public educators.”
This year’s inductees were: Judy Little and the late Wanda Bass from the city school system and David Buck and the late Joe Taylor from the county school system.

Smith, a graduate from Elizabethton High School, said he remembered both Bass and Little personally from his time at the school.
“We lost her too soon,” he said of Bass, noting that she passed away 25 years ago.
Bass taught at Elizabethton High School for 14 years before her health forced her to retire.
At the ceremony on Saturday night, Director of Elizabethton City Schools Dr. Corey Gardenhour presented Bass’ family with a plaque commemorating her induction into the Educators Hall of Fame.

When he introduced Little, Smith also shared a personal story of his experience as her student.
“It was Ms. Little who told me I should pursue a career in broadcasting. I know you probably don’t remember that, but we have you to blame,” Smith said with a laugh. “I am indebted to you, as are many people here tonight.”
Gardenhour presented Little with her plaque and when Smith offered Little the chance to address the audience, she simply smiled and said “Thank you.”

Taylor’s career in education spanned 44 years touched the lives of students at several county schools. Among his many achievements, Smith said Taylor was the founder of the hot lunch program in the county school system.
Director of Carter County Schools Dr. Kevin Ward presented a plaque to Taylor’s family commemorating his induction into the Educator Hall of Fame.
Buck taught for 32 years at Central Elementary and he continues to serve the students in that community as the district’s representative on the Carter County Board of Education.
During the ceremony, Ward presented Buck with his plaque.
Making a career in the field of education is a way of life for the Buck family, he said, adding both his mother and his wife were also teachers.
“I told somebody the other day that I’m the third best teacher in my family,” Buck told the audience with a laugh.
On a more serious note, Buck said he was proud be associated the Educators Hall of Fame and the excellent teachers who have been inducted previously.
“The greatest thing we can do as educators is to teach a child to read and train them up in the way they should go,” Buck said.