The Clarksville Academy Distinguished Teaching Fellows began in the fall of 2024 with a lead gift from Beth & Lawson Mabry. Designed to celebrate the success and dedication of a classroom teacher, the program will honor those teachers who go above and beyond.
Clarksville Academy is excited to announce the Distinguished Teaching Fellows Program. A fellowship is a competitive, merit-based award that provides financial support to a teacher to help them pursue their academic, professional, and personal goals to sustain their career at CA. The Distinguished Teaching Fellows Program is designed to recognize excellent teachers at Clarksville Academy and support them with a yearly stipend that recognizes their outstanding contributions not only to their students, but also to the CA community as a whole.
The Clarksville Academy Foundation recognizes the importance of a classroom teacher in the life and success of Clarksville Academy. The yearly stipend can give selected teachers opportunities for additional professional development, research, or personal growth, but at the discretion of the individual recipient. Fellows will be asked to submit a review of the year and how the program advanced or improved their classroom. Once established, this group can provide guidance and community to help other fellows develop skills to advance their careers.
Distinguished Teaching Fellows will be selected yearly by the Leadership Team at Clarksville Academy. Teachers who excel in and outside the classroom will be considered for the award. As long as the teacher is employed in a predominately classroom teacher role and is performing at a level of excellence, this honor will be bestowed and the stipend will remain. Each year, depending on financial availability, new fellows will be considered to join this elite group.
The stipend is not to be considered as a replacement for yearly salary increases based on performance. This honor will be above and beyond salary packages. Click here to support the Teaching Fellows.
Recipients
The first recipients of this prestigious award were named on April 29, 2025 in a small ceremony. Marla Clemments & Jill Sleigh were both honored for their tireless work and dedication to Clarksville Academy.
Marla Clemments has been at Clarksville Academy for 25 years. She is a model classroom teacher whose grace and beauty shine through in everything she does. Her presence in the classroom is calming and nurturing, creating an environment where students feel both valued and inspired. Her gentle and patient demeanor allows her to effortlessly connect with each child, ensuring they not only thrive academically, but also feel safe and supported in their emotional growth. The ability to blend kindness with clear expectations makes Marla’s classroom a space where discipline and compassion coexist seamlessly.
Marla’s teaching is a beautiful reflection of her creativity and passion. Through hands-on activities, captivating lessons, and an unwavering commitment to individualized attention, she brings subjects to life in ways that leave a lasting impact on her students. Yet, it is her quiet strength, poise, and the genuine care she brings to her role that makes her truly stand out.
Beyond her classroom, she exemplifies beauty in her approach to social-emotional learning, helping students cultivate empathy, resilience, and strong interpersonal skills. With grace and elegance, she has created not just a classroom, but a community where children are encouraged to be the best versions of themselves academically, socially, and emotionally.
She demonstrates exceptional skill in creating an inclusive, supportive, and engaging learning environment for her lower school students. Her enthusiasm for teaching fosters a love of learning in every child, while her compassionate and patient approach ensures that each student’s individual needs are met. With her calm and respectful classroom management style, she instills confidence and a sense of responsibility in her students. Congratulations Marla!
Jill Sleigh brings a powerful blend of wisdom and innovation to the classroom every single day. Her passion for teaching is evident in every lesson, every plan, and every student interaction. Even before students step into the room, there is intentional thought behind how to guide, support, and inspire them—right down to analyzing previous ACT data for deeper insights.
The magic happens in Jill’s classroom when students begin to connect their writing with their thinking—an intersection she cherishes, where real learning takes place. What distinguishes Jill is a proactive, reflective approach to the craft. There’s an ongoing drive to refine the curriculum and elevate the learning experience. Students are consistently challenged to grow as both critical thinkers and articulate communicators.
Beyond instruction, Jill has a remarkable gift for building authentic connections with students. By truly seeking to understand how students think, she is able to tailor instruction in ways that spark engagement and deeper understanding. Jill is known for pushing students outside their comfort zones, there’s always encouragement to write with intention and speak with confidence.
