Clinton Public School District

Clinton High School special education teacher Lindsay Pardue was the first one nominated in January and has ended up being chosen as the top choice.

On Wednesday, July 23, Pardue was presented with the Alyce Clarke 2025 Teacher of the Year Award by 16 WAPT News. 

“Seeing the students succeed, whether that success is large or small, is what brings me joy every day,” Pardue said. 

She said the growth her students experience on a daily basis is what her team aims for.

“I keep the motto that everybody can learn,” she said. “They may not learn on the same day or in the same way, but they can all learn.”

Fellow CHS special education teacher Kacy Parks fully believes Pardue’s award is deserving because of her commitment to her students and her willingness to help the other teachers grow themselves.

“As a partner teacher, she holds me to a higher standard,” Parks said. “We work well together. The ideas we share and implement tell of that relationship we have and to her willingness to be a team player.”

Pardue’s passion for helping students with special needs started early and close to home.

“I had a brother that had Down Syndrome who passed away many years ago,” she said, “but after that, I just really had a passion for working with individuals with disabilities.”

She said her passion is similar to that of other teachers within Clinton Public School District’s special education department. 

“There’s definitely a passion shared among us all,” she said. “Here at CHS, all of the special education teachers have the passion and the desire to want to make each individual that has some type of disability successful.” 

Parks echoed Pardue’s feelings saying the special education classes at CHS have a unique relationship that sets them apart. 

“We have a family type of atmosphere within our classes,” Parks said, “and all of our students do a wonderful job of working together. We’re proud of the work we’ve done to set up opportunities for these students to succeed in the future.”

The Alyce Clarke Award is named after former Mississippi Representative Alyce Clarke who served as an educator prior to her time as a Representative, serving as the first Black woman elected to the Mississippi Legislature. 

The award is open to any K-12 educator in WAPT’s viewing area and can be nominated through WAPT’s website.