Christ the Teacher Award

Pope John Paul II Preparatory School’s Dean of Faculty and Instruction, Mrs. Jennifer Dye, has been awarded the 2022 Christ the Teacher Award from the Diocese of Nashville. The award is given annually to a diocesan employee who has designed or implemented programs that have served the school and the surrounding community, has taught in Catholic schools for more than eight years, exhibits leadership and a Christlike example, and represents the heart of Catholic education.

As a founding member of Pope John Paul II High School in 2002, Dye’s contributions to the Pope Prep community are extensive. She is credited for developing the science curriculum in partnership with the math program, pioneering science modeling pedagogy within her department, and most recently, developing the innovation and entrepreneurship program. Dye led the accreditation process that resulted in earning the STEM designation for Pope Prep. She spearheaded the effort to implement the 1:1 iPad program and to enhance the meaningful use of technology through the Apple Teacher program, ultimately earning the Apple Distinguished School designation for our school.

Dye has had a tremendous influence on her students’ success throughout her 21 years at Pope Prep. With an emphasis on using science and innovation to serve others, Dye has created opportunities for her students to use their research to influence global change. She has supported countless science students as they published and presented original research, developed service projects for the local and international communities, and received awards for design and innovation challenges. For example, Dye’s students have served local hospitals,

supported mission programs in Haiti, and designed tools for those with physical disabilities, among other projects. She has developed opportunities for students to learn about 3D printing as design-thinking projects, study local environmental biology, and design safer and sustainably-sourced stoves for people in Haiti.

Throughout her career, Dye has not only been a leader in her school community, but her outreach as an educational leader extended to the entire state from elementary to post-secondary educational programs and initiatives. She has worked with schools in the Diocese of Nashville and throughout the state to implement the modeling pedagogy in science programs. She has also assisted the state with the development of science curriculum and MTSU with obtaining federal NSF grants and writing programs that train master’s candidates to become science educators. Dye has served as the President of the Tennessee Science Teachers Association for multiple years, leading conferences and professional development opportunities for science educators throughout the state.

Other accolades Dye has received throughout her career include the Presidential Award of Excellence for Math and Science, Tandy Teacher of the Year, TSTA Science Teacher of the Year, NABT Outstanding Biology Teacher of the Year, and the News Channel 5 Golden Apple Award.

Prior to coming to Pope Prep, Dye taught in Metro-Nashville Public Schools and Sumner County Public Schools as a science teacher. In the 2023-24 school year, Dye will be serving as the Interim Principal.