Submitted by Teresa Haller
For The Reporter
Teacher Appreciation Week, which runs May 4 to 8, is an opportunity to recognize local educators like Noblesville’s Candace Hoffman, who is committed to making a difference in students’ lives.
Candace teaches a fully virtual fourth-grade class at Indiana Gateway Digital Academy1 (INGDA), a tuition-free, K12-powered, online public school for K-12 students in Indiana. With enrollment in virtual public school growing 28 percent2 in the first half of this decade, she has developed an innovative approach to engage early learners in an online format and offers flexible solutions for students with unique needs, including military-connected families, immunocompromised students, and more.
Specifically, she integrates games and interaction into lessons, focuses on the individual strengths of each child, and offers one-to-one support to help students thrive by learning what drives them. To get to know her students at the beginning of the year, she passes out a survey to ask about their interests.
Candace views her role as being a compassionate motivator for students. She aims to challenge students in a way that caters to their strengths, interests, and imaginations. To give her students freedom to complete projects that align with their interests, she allows them to work from a “choice board” – with some building Minecraft worlds or writing scripts as part of their assignments. By creating opportunities for students to explore their interests, she makes sure they look forward to coming to school and encourages a love of learning. Her unique ability to build meaningful relationships through the screen and maintain high levels of student engagement speaks to her creativity and dedication.
Her passion for education extends throughout the entire year, teaching summer school courses that help students fill learning gaps and prepare for the upcoming school year. Beyond her teaching responsibilities, Candace consistently goes above and beyond to engage with students and foster student voice and leadership as the advisor of INDGA’s civics club.
This Teacher Appreciation Week, make sure to share gratitude for local educators like Candace, who show up for their students in unique, creative, and compassionate ways. Their passion for teaching helps spark a love for learning in students and builds a strong foundation for the next generation.
Teresa Haller serves as the community engagement specialist at Indiana Gateway Digital Academy. She collaborates with teachers, administrators, and families to strengthen connections and support student success.
2 marketreportsworld.com/market-reports/k-12-online-education-market-14722336
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