The Brookhaven-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce named itsfirst Teacher of the Month Tuesday as part of a new program torecognize local educational excellence.

Before the weekly staff meeting Tuesday at Mamie MartinElementary School, Assistant Principal and Chamber President RobMcCreary recognized Kimberly L. Arnold as the chamber’s Teacher ofthe Month.

Chamber of Commerce Executive Vice President Cliff Brumfieldsaid the chamber’s board of directors thought it important torecognize the area’s educators for the hard work they do in workingwith the children of Brookhaven and Lincoln County.

“This program not only recognizes our finest educators on anannual basis, but also gives us a chance to thank other individualsthat put forth an effort in enhancing the lives of our youngpeople,” Brumfield said.

He said the Teachers of the Month will create the pool fromwhich the Teacher of the Year will be chosen at the end of theyear. He said area schools will be rotated in order to give eachschool a chance to submit those they feel deserving of theaward.

“Each month we’ll pick a different school and they will providetheir designation for the award recipient,” Brumfield said. “Fromthis group, the Educator of the Year will be chosen.”

Arnold has been involved in education since 1995 aftergraduating from Mississippi State University with a degree inElementary Education. In December, she will graduate fromMississippi College with a master’s degree in Dyslexia Therapy.

Arnold has been with the Brookhaven School District since Augustof 2005 as a first grade teacher. She was the Madison CountyBusiness and Commerce Center’s Teacher of the Year in 2002.