Smith County High School

Smith County High School is proud to announce Mrs. Teri Dockery as its 2025–2026 Teacher of the Year. Mrs. Dockery has served as the Cosmetology instructor at SCHS since 2016. Prior to entering the classroom, she gained extensive industry experience working in various salons, and she continues to remain active in the field on weekends.

Mrs. Dockery is a 1999 graduate of Cookeville High School and a 2005 graduate of the Cookeville School of Cosmetology. In 2010, she earned her instructor license from Georgia Career Institute in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Reflecting on her career path, Mrs. Dockery shared, “I have always had a passion for the beauty industry and initially attended Tennessee Tech University to pursue a degree in education. Once I discovered how much I enjoyed teaching cosmetology, I knew that was where my career truly belonged.” She added, “I have been fortunate to teach both adult learners and high school students, and after 16 years in education, my greatest accomplishment has been watching my students graduate and go on to become successful professionals in the industry.”

In addition to her teaching responsibilities, Mrs. Dockery is an invaluable asset to SCHS’s Career and Technical Education Department and serves as the school’s Before and After School Coordinator. In this role, she plans engaging and educational activities, organizes tutoring services, and devotes significant time each week to ensuring students are exposed to a wide range of meaningful learning opportunities.

Lauren Davis, one of Smith County’s Career and Academic Coaches, praised Mrs. Dockery’s dedication, stating, “Teri is always willing to go above and beyond. She sacrifices a full planning period each day to ensure as many students as possible can enroll in her classes. Cosmetology is one of our most popular CTE programs, and Mrs. Dockery works diligently to provide the best education possible for each student, always seeing the best in them.”

Again, congratulations to Mrs. Teri Dockery, SCHS 2025-2026 Teacher of the Year. Smith County High School is fortunate to have her help to prepare our students for future careers.