Two local teachers are making the grade in the eyes of the Indiana Department of Education.
Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz announced ten finalists for 2017 Indiana Teacher of the Year in a press release Tuesday.
The two teachers from Michiana making the list are Penn High School biology teacher John Gensic and Mishawaka High School English and Futures in Education teacher Jessica Deckard Mann.
“Everywhere I go, I see great teaching and learning happening in Hoosier classrooms,” said Glenda Ritz, Indiana’s Superintendent of Public Instruction. “Great teachers can have a lifelong impact on a child’s life. I am honored to recognize ten of these outstanding educators today who have demonstrated their commitment to high-quality instruction and service to Hoosier students. I congratulate each of them on their accomplishment.”
Former Indiana Teachers of the Year will choose the winner in October. Southwest Allen County Schools teacher Jean Russell was the 2016 Indiana Teacher of the Year.
The Teacher of the Year program has been going on for over 50 years.
Here is the complete list of finalists:
Michelle Burress
Plainfield High School
Plainfield Community School Corporation
Subject: English, Journalism, Photography
Bobbi Jo Carter
Frankfort High School
Community Schools of Frankfort
Subject: English, Language Arts, English Learner Program
John Gensic
Penn High School
Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation
Subject: Biology
Dennis Goins
Ben Davis High School and Area 31 Career Center
MSD of Wayne Township
Subject: TV Broadcasting
Jarod Hammel
Huntington North High School
Huntington Community School Corporation
Subject: Math
Chris Hill
Avon High School
Avon Community School Corporation
Subject: Project Lead the Way, Engineering, Electronics
Mikayla Koharchik
Zionsville Middle School
Zionsville Community Schools
Subject: Language Arts
Jessica Deckard Mann
Mishawaka High School
School City of Mishawaka
Subject: English, Futures in Education
Jitka Nelson
Logansport Community High School
Logansport Community School Corporation
Subject: English, Language Arts
Jennifer Jo Steed
Brownsburg High School
Brownsburg Community School Corporation
Subject: German
