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“It’s probably the single most important thing we do as educators in Clark County is celebrating the success and greatness of our students and the teachers that inspire them,” Bennett said.
Valedictorians and salutatorians from each public school district in Clark County were announced. They were then given a few moments to introduce a teacher that had made an impact on them throughout their education.
“I don’t know if we ever take the time to celebrate what our teachers do for our students. All the great teachers that we have in Clark County. We get to do that one time and that’s the importance,” Bennett said.
The students picked a wide diversity of teachers including third-grade teachers to high school Latin teachers. They told stories of how their chosen educator made a difference in their lives.
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Northeastern student Hayley Suchland elected to honor the late Darin Brinkly, who died during this past school year. Nicholas Jenks chose longtime Greenon secretary and former teacher Jane Holland. Holland is retiring.
Being selected by a student should mean a lot to the teachers, Zerkle said.
“Being honored by your students, that means somebody is doing something right,” he said. “All these students are really indicative to the many great educators that we have in Clark County.”
The event is a special one to host every year, Bennett said.
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“This is something that has been an event that has been celebrated in Clark County,” Bennett said. “We are going to keep doing it.”
The awards were held at the Marriott Courtyard in downtown Springfield.
25th Larry K. Zerkle Excellence in Education awards
Clark County students selected one teacher from their school to honor at the 2018 county-wide awards event. Each school is listed below with the student, followed by the teacher who was honored.
Global Impact STEM Academy
Brant Guthrie - Jennifer Foudray
Drew Speas - Holly Dilts
Northeastern High School
Griffin Messer - Tom DiNuoscio
Lucy Parker - William Sykes
Hayley Suchland - Darin Binkley
Northwestern High School
Elizabeth Osterday - Amy Fischer
Emma Grammer - Vicki Packard-Cooper
Jacob Parks - Phillip Cooke
Shawnee High School
Kaitlyn Ferguson - Linda Cabaluna
Tyra Huxley - Rosina Matthies
Kayci Johnson - Elizabeth Nelson
Kelsey Lloyd - Stephanie Caraway
Maxwell Lubbers - Garry Barhorst
Southeastern High School
Madysen Bennington - Jeff Miller
Hailee Cain - Adam Lemmer
Springfield Clark- CTC
Hailee Cain - Adam Lemmer
Mackenzie Rice - Lori Ritzenthaler
Springfield High School
Caroline Osborn - Zachary Raines
Lauren Zeller - Kathy Johnson
Tecumseh High School
Abigail Adams - Craig Lindsey
Merrill Cline - Bryan Martin
Tyler Cory - Tammy Elam
Reed Finfrock - Mark Holbrook
Tiffany Lange - Dan Vaughan
Kirsten Narker - Stacie Anderson
Grenon High School
Kaitlyn Gibson - Susan Phillips
Nicholas Jenks - Jane Holland
Kenton Ridge High School
Josh Marcum - Viangie Gibson
Jacquelyn Newberry - Kim Reynolds
Adam Rape - Elizabeth Hypes
Alexis Stathopoulos - Leslie Niggemeyer
Matthew Zane Thornton - Elizabeth Hypes
Drew Wichael - Aaron Shaffer
Levi Woode - Karen Blaker
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