My name is Cathy Smith Standefer. My 1st and 2nd grades were spent at Mt. Zion, a one room school. When Mary V. Wheeler Elementary was a brand new school I started attending and spent my 3rd --8th grade years here. I feel so blessed to have had the opportunity to spend my entire teaching career here. I started teaching in August  of 1978. I have taught 1st and 2nd grades but most of my years have been spent in Kindergarten.I Graduated from Bledsoe County High School in 1974. I earned my AS Degree from Tomlinson College, BS Degree from Lee University and my Masters Degree from Tennessee Tech. I am married to Steve Standefer and we have 3 children, Steven (Debbi) Standefer, Sarah (Zach) Standefer Olendorf and Silas Standefer. I was blessed to get to be my 3 children's kindergarten teacher. We have 3 grandsons, Tristan and August Standefer and Les Paul Olendorf. Our 1st granddaughter will be arriving in October. Early in my teaching career I was nominated by some of my students for the Who's Who in America. In 2019 I was named the Educator of the week by News channel 9. I also won Mary V. Wheeler teacher of the year in 2019-2020. I feel like teaching is more than a career, IT'S A CALLING. I look forward to another year with my kindergarten students!!