Teacher of the Year for the State of Tennessee is Ms. Allyson Chick, a teacher at Richland Hills Elementary School in East Memphis.

The other teachers, staff and parents at Richland Hills put together a special event on Thursday because of the love they feel for Ms. Chick.

Ms. Chick carries pictures of her students with her wherever she goes, and can't wait to show them off, even to the Teacher of the Year judges.

"People ask me, ‘what do you do?' and I say, ‘I'm a teacher but it's not just what I do for a living, it's my lifestyle. It's who I am.' I used to be a little embarrassed because I talk so much about my job and used to get teased a bit because I'm so passionate about what I do. I'm not ashamed or embarrassed to tell you it's my life my calling," explains Chick.

So, how do you top Teacher of the Year for the State of Tennessee? Ms. Chick is now in competition for National Teacher of the Year.