Hamilton Heights School Corporation is pleased to announce this year’s Building Level Teachers of the Year.
Teachers who earned this year’s recognition include: Joy Volz, English, Hamilton Heights High School; Kari Beery, Language Arts, Hamilton Heights Middle School; Cheri Trachtman, Art, Hamilton Heights Elementary School; and Susan Lester, second grade, Hamilton Heights Primary School. One of these educators will be selected to represent the corporation at the Indiana Teacher of the Year competition in the fall.
Joy Volz
Joy Volz has been an educator for 25 years and has served as the leader or co-leader of the School Improvement Committee for more than two decades. She has dedicated countless hours focusing on the concepts that will make the high school a better place to learn. She loves her job and is passionate about helping her students learn.
“I have a job where I get to have a positive impact on another human being every single day,” said Volz, of what she describes as a huge reward of her profession.
Because both of her parents were teachers, Volz did not set out to pursue a career in education. However, during one of her summer breaks from Indiana University, she met a little boy named Christopher who would change her life and career path. She returned to college, set her sights on becoming an English teacher, and never looked back.
Volz, who has worn many hats during her long tenure at Heights, says one of the most important things she does daily as a teacher is to create an environment where her students feel comfortable learning and sharing. She works to ensure that every student knows they are noticed, they count, and they are important.
Volz has an enthusiastic and upbeat personality that makes her a favorite among students. Many of her former students credit her for the success that they have had in college. Volz lives in Westfield with her husband Ryan and daughter Ellen, 11.
Kari Beery
It wasn’t until after Kari Beery’s first semester at Purdue University that she realized she had a knack for engaging kids and connecting with them. This began her path toward education and a successful career as a middle school teacher.
Beery, who strives to bring her best every day, is an outstanding teacher and leader at Hamilton Heights Middle School. She has the ability to motivate students to do their best and help students achieve at a high level. She is the type of individual who doesn’t mind getting in the trenches and putting in the time it takes to do her job well. She has a driving desire to teach and the passion to do it well all while helping others to want to be their very best.
She tells her students at the beginning of the year that eighth grade English is her dream job.
“From the moment I was a middle school student teacher, this was what I always wanted to do,” Beery said. “While it’s not for the faint of heart, the students on the cusp of maturity bring me plenty of challenge and laughs.”
Beery lives in Cicero with John, her husband of 27 years. They have four children ranging in age from 16 to 26.
Cheri Trachtman
Cheri Trachtman, a 1988 graduate of Purdue University, has been inspiring and motivating children through art education for the better part of 20 years. She has the heart and the head for teaching and a deep understanding of what children need to grow and learn.
“Art, complimented by soft music and quiet, can be a welcome respite with the rest of the day,” explained Trachtman, who teaches students the gift that art has given her. “I tell students, let your paintbrush, your oil pastel, your pencil do the talking. This gives students time to experience the feeling when they get immersed in an artistic endeavor. Something wonderful, yet unpredictable, happens between the student and the materials that raise their curiosity and interest to another level when they can really focus on the task at hand.”
Trachtman likes to give students an opportunity to make art in many different mediums, including drawing, painting and sculpture.
“I love to see what students create and see the way that they interpret the directions and parameters, adding their own unique voices and styles,” she said.
She uses a wide variety of media and working methods to ensure success for all students. Almost every student enjoys art class and takes away something positive.
“I think they enjoy the class so much because they get to share a very special side of themselves,” she said.
Trachtman lives in Cicero with her husband Bill. They have two children Alex, 21, and Kate, 24.
Susan Lester
Susan Lester was a talented student athlete whose life, as far back as she could remember, revolved around all things basketball. So much so the last thing she was thinking about when she went off to play basketball for Butler University was declaring a major. It was after her first season of playing that Lester participated at a summer basketball camp for grade school children. This would be an “a-ha” moment for Lester. She went on to pursue her degree in education and career as a teacher with the same dedication and passion as she did with basketball.
Lester says it was her professors at Butler who helped instill the belief that being in education is all about being a lifelong learner. She credits Hamilton Heights Primary School Principal Julie Griffey for helping her to start her career surrounded by people who truly believe in her ability to make a difference as a teacher.
Lester, with just three years at Heights, is quickly emerging as a remarkable educator and coach with the ability to help those around her see the bright light even on the darkest days. She is engaging, motivating and respected by her students and colleagues. She is able to make learning fun while holding herself to high standards always striving to do her best, give her best, and expect the best from her students.
“The students,” she says, “definitely rise to the challenge. My greatest joy is working with children and the rewards of my job come in many different shapes, sizes, smiles, laughs and more.”
Lester lives in Anderson with her son, Devon, 21 months.
About the HHSC Teacher of the Year Program
The selection process for the annual Teacher of the Year begins after Spring Break. The annual Teacher of the Year nominees should reflect the HHSC Core Values of Innovation, Community, Accountability, Respect, Encouragement and Excellence. A nominee must have received a Teacher Evaluation Rating of either Effective or Highly Effective the previous year at HHSC to be considered for the Building Level Award. From the nominees, the building level Teacher of the Year is chosen by the building level administration team. Selection is based on nominee’s reflection of HHSC Core Values and Teacher Evaluation Rating. Building Level Teacher of the Year are asked to submit a Professional Biography, Philosophy of Teaching and Letter of Support by May 15. The selection committee meets to review information submitted for each candidate and make their selection for the HHSC Teacher of the Year by June 1.
About the INTOY Program
Each year, the Indiana Department of Education conducts this special program to recognize outstanding classroom teachers from across the state. One person, in accordance with National Teacher of the Year guidelines, is chosen to represent Indiana teachers at the national level.
All school corporations are invited to share in this recognition program by honoring their teachers and nominating one teacher to represent local educators at the state level of the program. IDOE hopes the underlying idea behind the recognition of excellent teachers will spread to every community in Indiana.