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Steve Reddick

Meet Our 2017 Educators Hall of Honors Inductee: Steve Reddick

Each year, the College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences celebrates and honors professionals who already have established themselves in the field of education and who help students who one day will follow in their footsteps. These Educators are inducted into the Educators Hall of Honor. This wall is located in the front entrance hall of the Claxton Education Building and stands as a proud reminder of their impact and legacy that inspires the next generation of Educators.

This year, we have inducted seven new members including: Alice Bratten, Amos Hatch, Debora Hatch, Walter Mencer, John Peters, Steve Reddick, and Robert Webb.  We will be highlighting each one.  Today, we would like to introduce you to Steve Reddick.

A proud alumnus of the University of Tennessee, Steve received his Bachelors and Master’s degree in British and European History in 1981 and 1983 respectively.  After graduation, he traveled to Cork, Ireland to study at the University College of Cork where he earned a second Master’s degree in Irish History.  Lucky for us, while in Ireland, he learned from a former UT advisor that a teaching position in History was available at a school in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.  Not thinking this was the path he wanted to take, Steve came back to the U S and has spent thirty-three wonderful years at Jefferson Middle School.  Teaching eighth grade American History has been his main responsibility but Steve also spends time teaching seventh and ninth grade World Geography, U S Government, and Psychology at Oak Ridge High School.

In 1990 and 91, Steve took a year of professional leave after winning a fellowship to study Irish History at the Australian National University in Canberra, Australia and later continued his professional development training at Colonial Williamsburg, Monticello, and most recently at the George Washington Teacher Institute at Mount Vernon in Virginia.  In his spare time, Steve coaches cross country and track at Jefferson Middle and serves as the president of the Oak Ridge Education Association.  Having received numerous awards and recognitions, Steve is most proud of his Irish heritage and is working on a family history that focuses on three generations of relatives from Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Ireland.  He also plays bluegrass, folk, and Irish music with his kids and in two local bands, the Ridge City Ramblers and Shamrock Road.  When asked what important advice he would give his students, Steve replied, “Keep and open and curious mind.  Experience as much of life as you can.  Travel, get outside, play, and finally, do your homework.  Success is often as much about showing up and being prepared than anything else.”