teacher of the year- all - East Allen County Schools

2014 Teacher of the Year
Heritage Attendance Area
Emily Hissong, Heritage Elementary
Emily Hissong is a second grade teacher. She has been teaching
for 10 years, all with EACS! Favorite teaching moment: “My
most memorable teaching moment was a few years ago when I had a
first grade student who came to me not knowing how to read or even
identify letters. I made it my mission to do whatever I could for this
child to help him catch up and feel confident with himself. Throughout
the year, I watched him get excited when he reached a milestone and
became more confident. By the end of two years with this student, he
finally caught up and was on grade level. It made me feel proud and
taught me that hard work pays off.“
Gail Alexander, Heritage Jr. Sr. High
Gail Alexander is an English teacher. She has been teaching for 23
years! Favorite teaching moment: “Any moment when I can help a
student see success is significant to me. Whether it is a student finishing a
paper or a student being accepted into college, knowing that I have had an
impact on that moment of success is very rewarding.”
2014 Teacher of the Year
Harding Attendance Area
Jeanette Lundeen, Southwick Elementary
Jeanette Lundeen teachers music and has been teaching for 15 years
and 14 of those years with EACS! Favorite teaching moment: “My
favorite teaching moments are when I see my students engaged and having
fun in Music Class while learning. I also love watching them perform for their
families at programs where they get to share what they’ve worked hard to
learn in Music Class.”
Brenda Hutchins, Prince Chapman Academy
Brenda Hutchins is a sixth grade teacher (intermediate level). She has
been teaching for 14 years, all with EACS! Favorite teaching moment:
“Each time I see a student having an “ah ha” moment during or after a
lesson, is my favorite teaching moment.”
Danielle Newman, Paul Harding Junior
Danielle Newman is an Instructional Coach. She has been teaching for 16
years, 15 years with EACS! Favorite teaching moment “I love to teach a
lesson and the kids get it. I instantly get goose bumps because I know that I have
given them something that they will remember or something that they finally
understand. That is the most rewarding part of teaching kids.”
Darlene Lankenau, East Allen University
Darlene Lankenau, teaches Spanish. She’s been teaching for 14+ years and
10 of those years with EACS! Favorite teaching moment: “Each school I’ve
had the pleasure to work with has been a blessing. Teaching authentic dances, songs
to promote proper intonation and pronunciation, and comparing cultures to working
through the rough spots of learning another language I have been blessed by such
creative and innovative young people.”
2014 Teacher of the Year
Leo Attendance Area
Bryan Kaylor, Cedarville Elementary
Bryan Kaylor is a 3rd grade teacher and has been teaching 14 years
with EACS! Favorite teaching moment: “Light bulb moments are necessary
to remind me why I became a teacher. However, I would say having the
honor of performing in the school talent show with my son followed by
being crazy with my fellow Cedarville teachers dancing to Gangnam Style will
be forever etched in my memory!”
Tracey Mull, Leo Elementary
Tracey Mull is a 5th grade teacher and has been teaching
for 13 with EACS! Favorite teaching moment: “The most
memorable teaching moment occurred in the fall of 2007, while I was
teaching at Harlan Elementary. Our class read a short, persuasive, non
fiction article from our reading series. This article introduced the
concept of Boundless Playgrounds, playgrounds without limits for those
with disabilities. One student was so inspired by this article; she came to
school the next day with sketches of a playground and idea. Her dream
became a reality in 2011, a Boundless Playground is at Kreager Park!”
Ryan Clark, Leo Jr. Sr. High
Ryan Clark is an English teacher and has taught for 8 years, 6 of those years
with EACS! Favorite teaching moment: “My first teaching job was in a rural
area of southern Indiana, and I had a boy named Charlie who had failed every
English class he had ever taken. He was also failing my class, but after we had a
talk he realized that he wasn’t too far from passing. Our final project involved a
presentation and he was terrified of public speaking. I asked him what made him
feel comfortable, and he said only his motorcycle. After a brainstorm (and a little
help from the principal) we arranged it that he could give his final presentation on
his motorcycle in the parking lot. He did a great job and passed English!”
2014 Teacher of the Year
New Haven Attendance Area
Jennifer Klug, New Haven Primary
Jennifer Klug is a Physical Education teacher. She has been teaching for 16
years at EACS! Favorite teaching moment: “I love when I have students try
climbing the rock wall in our gym for the first time. Some of them have no fear and
hop right on while others will cry and shake. But all of them learn and try to get
better, teaching them perseverance, and it becomes their favorite activity.”
Rebecca Childs, New Haven Intermediate
Rebecca Childs is a 3rd grade teacher. She has been teaching 26 years
and 21 of those years with EACS! Favorite teaching moment “My favorite
moment was that of a student that I had in third grade. He was a very smart
boy who had a quick temper and he had trouble controlling it, as well as a hard
home life. I pushed him to do his best and he pushed back to do what he
wanted. When he was 16, I ran into him at the grocery store. He told me he
knew he wasn’t very nice to me, but that I was his favorite teacher and thanked
me for caring.”
Bernadette Weller, New Haven Middle
Bernadette Weller is an Art teacher. She has been with EACS for
29 years! Favorite teaching moment: “After complaining for an
entire 6 weeks a student said, “This is embarrassing and I don’t
know if I should say it but I actually like art now!””
Troy Guenin, New Haven High
Troy Guenin is a Mathematics teacher. He has been teaching 9 years, all
with EACS! Favorite teaching moment: “Any time a students says,
“Thank you, for everything” has to rank towards the top of my favorite
teaching moments.”
2014 Teacher of the Year
Woodlan Attendance Area
Christy Preston, Woodlan Primary
Christy Preston is a first grade teacher. She has been teaching 16 years all with EACS!
Favorite teaching moment: “My favorite moments are the ones that
make me laugh. Here are a few of my favorite kid quotes. Referring to a
class celebration: “Is today Tomorrow?”, During a money unit: “You save
big money at Menards.”, The reason I love teaching first graders: “Only
God and teachers know everything!”
Michelle Gibson, Woodlan Intermediate
Michelle Gibson is a sixth grade teacher. She has been
teaching for 30 years and 24 of those years with EACS!
Favorite teaching moment: “After teaching a lesson about
layers of soil, one of her students was so inspired that she went
home and dug a hole in her backyard. The hole measured about
3 feet deep and 2 feet wide. She wanted to look at the layers up
close and share her new found knowledge with her family. She
took pictures and brought them to class to show her observations. Who knew dirt was so
inspiring!”
Linda Wunderlin, Woodlan Jr. Sr. High
Linda Wunderlin is a Media Specialist/Secondary Science teacher. She has been
teaching for 24 years with EACS. Favorite teaching moment: “The ones
that come later when she see’s her students applying what they learned in my
classes. Service, especially, has always been a big part of my lessons. Now I have
the pleasure of seeing pictures on Facebook of my students, and their children,
helping out at soup kitchens, and other activities across the world. It’s not what
you teach, it’s the mark that you leave on their hearts.”