Abbi Richcreek accepts the 2017 Middle School Teacher Excellence Award at the annual Association for Career and Technical Educators and Engineering & Technology Educators of Indiana conference.

WARSAW — Warsaw Community Schools is proud to announce Abbi Richcreek, a teacher at Edgewood Middle School, has been named the 2017 Middle School Teacher Excellence Award winner. The award was presented to Richcreek at the Marriott East Hotel in Indianapolis during the annual Association for Career and Technical Educators and Engineering & Technology Educators of Indiana conference.

This prestigious award is given to a teacher in recognition for their outstanding dedication, talent and achievement in the Area of Engineering and Technology Education. A nominee for this award must be a full- time educator who takes great pride in their work by engaging students in authentic learning experiences; be a positive role model in their school; keep abreast of developments in technology education; and always aspire to become a better educator.

Richcreek has a passion for teaching engineering and technology in her school by encouraging students to pursue a future in the areas of engineering/technology and medicine. Engaging students in hands-on experiences, she challenges students to apply their problem-solving skills with various projects in Medical Detectives, Automation and Robotics, and Design & Modeling (PLTW courses).

Richcreek has taught in Warsaw Community Schools for the past 10 years. She has been active in IACTE and E/TEI by holding various offices spanning from secretary to president in both organizations. Currently, she is running for District 2 director for International Technology and Engineering Educators Association. Richcreek will be able to represent Warsaw Community Schools internationally at the spring ITEEA conference. In spring 2017, she presented at the Indiana Project Lead The Way conference. She has written and received numerous grants for the district and is the lead organizer for WCS’s Vex State Qualifier and Vex Exhibition tournaments.