Collierville High School Teacher Allison Collier was recently awarded the Marilyn Barnes Green Excellence in Teaching Award by the Collierville Education Foundation. 

The Marilyn Barnes Green Excellence in Teaching Award recognizes and encourages teaching excellence throughout Collierville Schools. The award was created by John Green, founder of the Collierville Education Foundation, to honor the life and legacy of his late wife, Marilyn Barnes Green. Marilyn devoted 27 years to educating young people as a third-grade teacher with Shelby County Schools. During her career, she taught at Coleman Elementary, Ross Elementary, and, for her longest tenure, Germantown Elementary. Through this award, her legacy continues by honoring an educator whose passion, innovation, and dedication inspire students to love learning, believe in themselves, and become thoughtful, engaged members of their community.

This year’s recipient has devoted more than 18 years to teaching social studies at Collierville High School. Through Advanced Placement U.S. History, Dual Enrollment American History, and Dual Enrollment American Government, she has helped generations of students understand not only our nation’s history but also their responsibility as informed and engaged citizens. In Mrs. Collier’s classroom, history is never simply a collection of names and dates. Students examine primary sources, participate in debates and simulations, analyze constitutional questions, and connect historical events to issues shaping our world today. On any given day, students might find their teacher dressed as a flapper and dancing the Charleston, portraying a factory manager, or singing a historical parody. Each activity makes learning meaningful and memorable. At the beginning of the year, every student receives a pocket Constitution, affectionately called a “birthday present” because nearly every student will celebrate a birthday during the school year. Former students have carried these Constitutions with them to college, leadership conferences, and even meetings with government officials.

The academic results are equally remarkable. Students consistently exceed state and national Advanced Placement benchmarks, including a 92.2 percent pass rate on the AP U.S. History examination. Students participating in the CLEP program have achieved a 100 percent pass rate, creating opportunities to earn college credit at no cost. Yet test scores tell only part of Mrs. Collier’s impact.

A former student shared that Mrs. Collier transformed history “from a subject into a passion.” Another described entering the classroom expecting difficult tests and endless textbook reading, only to discover meaningful assignments, engaging discussions, and a genuine excitement for learning. The student explained, “I learned because I truly wanted to.” A parent described the classroom as operating on a “Respect Economy.” Students are held to high standards, but when they demonstrate effort, Mrs. Collier does everything possible to help them succeed. They receive encouragement, individualized support, and the confidence to meet those expectations.

Mrs. Collier believes the purpose of education is to prepare students to become active participants in our democracy. Students are taught how to think, not what to think. They learn to consider different perspectives, participate in respectful civil discourse, and understand the importance of integrity, responsibility, and service. That commitment extends beyond the classroom. Mrs. Collier has served as Social Studies Department Chair, instructional coach, professional learning community leader, Knowledge Bowl co-sponsor, Rho Kappa co-sponsor, Youth in Government sponsor, and Dragons LEAD mentor.

Mrs. Collier’s state and national recognitions include being named the 2025–2026 Collierville High School Teacher of the Year and Tennessee Council for the Social Studies Outstanding Secondary Teacher of the Year. She was also selected as Tennessee’s James Madison Fellow and serves on the Tennessee Secretary of State’s Civic Engagement Advisory Committee. The U.S. Department of Education selected her as a question writer, regional judge, and national finals judge for the Presidential 1776 Award. Mrs. Collier also represented the Sixth Judicial Circuit at the Katzmann Conference on Civics Education and the Federal Courts. In describing the purpose behind the work, she wrote, “My goal is to teach my students how to think, never what to think.”

Please join us in congratulating Mrs. Collier for this outstanding recognition.