The surrealness of the moment that Christopher Kourvelas (’04, ’07) was named Middle School Louisiana Teacher of the Year by Bossier Parish Schools and the Louisiana Department of Education with the Dream Teachers Foundation is not lost on him. The honor of receiving this award is a testament to his role as an educator and an opportunity to reflect on those who empowered him to teach.
“I give a ton of credit to the UofM for helping me get the foundations of teaching and stirring up the passion of education,” he said.
A Memphis native, Kourvelas grew up a Tiger fan, attending football and basketball games. He recalls how excited he was to attend games in the Mid-South Coliseum, noting that the tickets were called “Golden Circle.”
As he got older, he tried to figure out what direction he wanted to take into the next phase of his life.
“I did apply to other places, but I always knew at the bottom of my heart that I wanted to be at Memphis, and once I visited the campus, I was sold,” he said.
Campus life was an important aspect of Kourvelas’ Memphis experience, which began in 1999. In addition to being in a fraternity and serving as an orientation guide, he took on the important role of UofM mascot — Pouncer. He graduated with his bachelor’s degree in individual studies with a concentration in sports promotion and leadership in 2004 and his master’s in instruction and curriculum leadership education in 2007.
Kourvelas’ journey to become an educator and empower students was not a clear decision initially. He credits his high school teachers for setting him on the path to becoming an educator. Sports have always played a significant role in his life, and Kourvelas wanted to coach basketball. As he started his master’s program, he had several UofM professors who profoundly impacted his career choice. Kourvelas remembers the late Ed Orio in the College of Education for pushing him to do his best and remain accountable for his actions.
Dr. Cathy Meredith, a retired professor in the Department of Instructional Curriculum and Leadership and Kourvelas remained close after he graduated. After becoming a finalist for the Middle School Teacher of the Year award, he contacted Meredith and thanked her for her impact on him and his career.
“Read to your children every day,” he said. Noting that even though he teaches middle school, Meredith’s mantra on how critical reading is to children is essential to his role as a teacher.
Meredith enjoys maintaining connections with former students. She believes educators play a vital role in the lives of their students and require passion and grit.
“Your impact is knowing how you have helped or influenced a student’s life,” Meredith said.
Learning that Kourvelas was awarded Teacher of the Year for being a successful educator is rewarding. Being aware that there are “still [former] students making a difference in the lives of [current] students is rewarding because it’s one of the most important jobs,” she said.
Teacher of the Year Process: A Humbling Experience
In 2009, Kourvelas settled in Louisiana and began teaching. He teaches seventh grade American history, is the athletic director for his school and coaches the middle school boys’ basketball team. The Teacher of the Year Award for Louisiana is a rigorous process that began in the fall of 2023 for Kourvelas. Louisiana has 64 parishes (counties) and several hundred middle schools.
An extensive application process followed Kourvelas’ nomination. Semifinalists were announced in early 2024, and nine teachers and principals were selected as finalists and participated in a final interview in June.
“I tell my students all the time, if something doesn’t work for you, it’s ok to fall as long as you fall forward, get back up and keep trying.”
He was one of three finalists for the middle school level. The winners were announced at the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) 18th Annual Cecil J. Picard Educator Excellence Awards Gala held in New Orleans in July 2024. Kourvelas was stunned to hear his name announced.
Kourvelas recalled the process as a humbling experience. He said his teaching style was inspired by many who shaped his experience as an educator.
“I tell my students all the time, if something doesn’t work for you, it’s okay to fall as long as you fall forward, get back up and keep trying,” he said.
In October 2023, he was named teacher of the year at his school, Elm Grove Middle School, and since that moment Kourvelas has spent a lot of time reflecting on the process.
Dream It, Believe It, Do It
“I would encourage everybody to be a dreamer, be a believer and then be a doer,” he said. “And it kind of goes back to the thing that the University of Memphis had when I was there,” Kourvelas said. “Dreams are only a step in the process. The next step is to put your dreams into action.
“When you put an action with a dream, you have something to work for, but guaranteed you’re going to fall at some point. Fall forward and learn from your mistakes. And the biggest thing is don’t give up,” he said.
“You have to trust yourself, trust others, learn from everyone and don’t be afraid to fail. Keep moving forward and trust your process because the day that you give up is the day that you quit, and you can’t do that. You’re going to have to keep moving forward, no matter what the process is.”
Kourvelas hasn’t stopped learning, either.
He recently completed a master’s in education administration while encouraging current students to start thinking about their future and focus on doing something valuable with their lives. He encourages those exploring a degree in education to never stop learning.
“Don’t be afraid to try new things in your classroom, and don’t be afraid to challenge your students and push them to where you believe that they can be,” Kourvelas said.
“Students want and need expectations to succeed. Educators can assist students with achieving their dreams.” Kourvelas added, “Don’t be afraid to do that.”
“Not just reflecting on what happens in my classroom or on the basketball court — but also just self-reflection of me as a teacher, a coach, a parent — to see where I came from, where I am now and even where I want to be in the future,” he said.
Dream It, Believe It, Do It
“I would encourage everybody to be a dreamer, be a believer and then be a doer,” he said. “And it kind of goes back to the thing that the University of Memphis had when I was there,” Kourvelas said. “Dreams are only a step in the process. The next step is to put your dreams into action.
“When you put an action with a dream, you have something to work for, but guaranteed you’re going to fall at some point. Fall forward and learn from your mistakes. And the biggest thing is don’t give up. You have to trust yourself, trust others, learn from everyone and don’t be afraid to fail. Keep moving forward and trust your process because the day that you give up is the day that you quit, and you can’t do that. You’re going to have to keep moving forward, no matter what the process is.”
Kourvelas hasn’t stopped learning, either. He recently completed a master’s in education administration while encouraging current students to start thinking about their future and focus on doing something valuable with their lives. He encourages those exploring a degree in education to never stop learning.
“Don’t be afraid to try new things in your classroom, and don’t be afraid to challenge your students and push them to where you believe that they can be,” Kourvelas said. Students want and need expectations to succeed. Educators can assist students with achieving their dreams. Kourvelas added, “Don’t be afraid to do that.”
