Tippecanoe Valley School Corp. named Burket Educational Center teacher Micah Lukens as its Teacher of the Year at the TVSC Board meeting on Monday, April 19, at Mentone Elementary School. He was chosen over three other candidates. From left: TVSC Professional Learning Specialist Inga Omondi, Lukens and TVSC Board President Tom Bauters. InkFreeNews photos by Leah Sander.

By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

MENTONE — Micah Lukens has been named Tippecanoe Valley School Corp.’s Teacher of the Year.

The corporation made the announcement at the TVSC Board meeting on Monday, April 19, at Mentone Elementary School.

School corporations are allowed to nominate one teacher each year, who goes on to compete for the Indiana Department of Education’s Teacher of the Year.

IDOE is resuming the process after opting to name all of the state’s educators Teachers of the Year during the last round due to their dedication during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Valley selected four teachers from each of the corporation’s schools before narrowing it down to Lukens. He represents Tippecanoe Valley High School, being the teacher at the corporation’s alternative high school Burket Educational Center.

The other teachers were Akron Elementary School second grade teacher Ryan Adams, Mentone Elementary School’s fourth grade teacher Lee Ann Rock and Tippecanoe Valley Middle School eighth grade science teacher Cheryl Huff.

During the meeting, the board played a video talking about why each of the teachers and ultimately Lukens was chosen.

“‘Positive energy and positive people create positive results,’ says the infamous writer Jon Gordon in his most popular book ‘The Energy Bus,'” narrated TVHS Principal Brandon Kresca in part of it. “In reading ‘The Energy Bus,’ I could not help but think of TVSC and Burket Educational Center teacher Mr. Micah Lukens … You embody the Viking spirit Mr. Lukens and we appreciate your contributions daily.”

All of the teachers received a plaque, and Lukens received an additional plaque and a decorative apple. The teachers were present at the meeting save for Adams, who was unable to attend due to an illness.

Lee Ann Rock honored

Rock was also honored at the meeting as she is retiring.

TVSC Superintendent Blaine Conley noted Rock has taught for almost 44 years, all at Mentone. In addition to being a teacher, she is the current Mentone student council sponsor. He read from a statement Rock wrote reflecting on her career and retirement plans.

“The most rewarding aspect of my career has been the relationships and friendships I’ve made with students, parents, community members and colleagues,” it read in part. “Over the years, I’ve received many notes from students and parents telling me that I helped them instill a love of reading. Knowing that I kindled a love of reading in others is very meaningful to me.”

The corporation had a reception for Rock as well as the Teacher of the Year nominees before the meeting.

Mentone update

The board also heard the annual update on Mentone from Principal Randy Dahms and his staff.

The school has adjusted for COVID-19 by increasing hand-washing, having its students use designated water bottles and making them sit in certain groups to allow for contact tracing.

School activities have also adjusted for COVID-19, but some of the normal ones have occurred.

The school had its regular food drive and virtual or in-house spelling and math competitions instead of outside the school and raised funds for Riley Hospital for Children.

At the meeting, student Lily Koch presented Kosciusko Community Foundation CEO Stephanie Overbey with a check for $5,000 that students and teachers raised for the foundation’s Riley Kids Fund. Money from that goes to Riley and to help families with food and travel expenses who have a child at Riley.

In other business, the board:

• Approved the hiring of Mentone kindergarten teacher Courtney Lemler and ECA Treasurer Tina Francis. Both were present at the meeting.
• Approved Ashley Derf as TVHS’ varsity volleyball coach.
• Accepted the retirement of TVSC Maintenance Director Todd Glenn and the resignations of TVMS language arts teacher Sara Thomas and TVHS Spanish teacher Sarah Hoff and custodian Hannah Eastwood.
• Accepted $20,000 from AkzoNobel to paint playground equipment, add sand, soil and rubber mulch as needed and plant wildflowers among other things at Mentone.
• Heard that the open house for the high school’s building trades program is 1-3 p.m. Sunday, May 23, at the Baker home at 7433 W. CR 900S, Claypool. The public is welcome to attend.
• Heard that Mentone School Counselor Caroline Day, who was the last TVSC Teacher of the Year, has been named an Armstrong Teacher Educator for Indiana University’s School of Education. She has received a $500 honorarium and will participate in several panel discussions.
• Approved allowing the corporation to create its own social studies curriculum for TVHS and TVMS through the #GoOpen initiative.
• Accepted a $366 DonorsChoose donation for TVMS special education teacher Cathy Olson to buy workboxes and STEM items for her students.
• Accepted a $567 Kosciusko Endowment Youth Services grant for Akron kindergarten teacher Chaitra Adams to create a leveled library for her classroom.
• Heard a report on high school activities from student representative Mackenzie Costello. Among other things, the prom committee is finishing plans for this year.

The board’s next meeting is 6 p.m. Monday, May 17, at Akron.

Tippecanoe Valley Middle School eighth grade science and biology teacher Cheryl Huff was also one of the Teacher of the Year nominees. From left: Omondi, Huff and Bauters.

Mentone Elementary School fourth grade teacher Lee Ann Rock was a Teacher of the Year nominee and was honored due to her retiring. From left: Omondi, Rock and Bauters.

Mentone student Lily Koch, right, presented Kosciusko Community Foundation CEO Stephanie Overbey with a $5,000 check from funds students and teachers raised for the foundation’s Riley Kids Fund at the meeting.