Mentone Elementary School instructional coach Karissa Cody, center, was recognized as Tippecanoe Valley School Corp.’s Teacher of the Year at the TVSC Board meeting on Monday, April 15, at Mentone. With her are Mentone Principal Randy Dahms, left, and Board President Adam Heckaman.

Text and Photos
By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

MENTONE — Karissa Cody is “trusted (and) respected by the staff (at Mentone Elementary School),” said Mentone Principal Randy Dahms on Monday, April 15.

She’s also now the Tippecanoe Valley School Corp. Teacher of the Year.

Dahms made the comment about Cody, an instructional coach, in a video for the Teacher of the Year presentation shown during the TVSC Board’s regular monthly meeting at Mentone.

Each year TVSC honors four educators from each of its main schools. The Teacher of the Year from among them goes on to compete for the state teacher title.

Others honored Monday were Akron Elementary School fourth grade teacher Ethyn Brumbaugh, Tippecanoe Valley Middle School eighth grade English language arts teacher Linda Randall and Tippecanoe Valley High School biomedical teacher Jon Hutton.

In the video, Dahms said he “first got to know Karissa (when) she was an energetic, young teacher who had a passion for her students (and) had a passion for Tippecanoe Valley Schools.”

Dahms noted Cody attended Mentone as a student and was a TVHS graduate.

“She’s actively involved in our school and community,” he said. “Someone would have to look long and hard to find someone who loves Valley more.”

Mentone Update

Dahms was joined by his staff in providing the annual update on Mentone to the board.

They recognized Mentone’s student council and spell bowl and math teams. Mentone’s fifth grade math team won the district contest and placed 11th in the state.

Dahms also recognized student Sophina Gunnels who achieved a perfect score on the IREAD-3 test.

Mentone teacher Kamry Sands spoke about Buddy’s Closet, which provides clothing and hygiene items for students in need.

In other business, the board:

• Heard that the open house for the home TVHS building trades students have been working on is 1-3 p.m. Sunday, May 19, at 10189 Loon Lake Drive, Silver Lake.
• Accepted the resignation of TVHS English teacher McKinley Adams and approved the maternity leave for Mentone fourth grade teacher Katie Yoars.
• Approved Edward Daggett being the TVMS sixth through eighth grade coed assistant soccer coach and Kelly Fields being the sixth through eighth grade coed assistant track and field coach.
• Accepted a $265 donation from Beaver Dam Community Church for gift cards for Burket Educational Center students.
• Accepted two grants from the K21 Health Foundation. One was a $10,000 school nurse discretionary fund grant, and the other was $59,978 for playground equipment for the Mentone Kindergarten Readiness program.

The board’s next regular meeting is 6 p.m. Monday, May 20, at Akron.