Excellence in Teaching Award winners named

Nominated by her colleague, Jill McKelvey, Ms. Hemmelgarn is a world history, sociology and AP European history teacher at Benjamin Logan High School, where she has taught since 2000.

“She uses her own money and time to stimulate learning in her classroom,” said Ms. McKelvey. “The work she has done as the student government adviser, track coach and cheer coach is shown in the commitment those students have to those programs,” the nominator continued.

“I believe that all students are unique learners and it is my job to identify how a student learns and to create a classroom that will foster their growth,” Ms. Hemmelgarn said. “I use music, drawing, role plays and even food to connect historical ideas to the student. … I also believe in cross-curricular activities to help students connect information to the content area.”

Ohio Hi-Point Career Center English instructor Ryan Gilbert the past eight years was nominated by eight students.

“Mr. Gilbert focuses more on how each individual student learns and works with them,” wrote one of the students. “He helps get people out of their comfort zone and makes them feel like they can achieve anything. Personally, he has helped with my anxiety of working with people and presenting in front of classes,” the student concluded.

“Overcoming obstacles is the soul of teaching — it’s what we do every single day,” Mr. Gilbert said. “English is rife with opportunities to connect to life experience. Reflective writing gives them a chance to pour their lives onto paper — and get to know each other in the peer edits. … It’s not my classroom. It’s our classroom.”

Erin Miller is an art teacher at Indian Lake High ‘School and has been in the district since 2011.

She was nominated by senior student Teri Lones and ILHS principal Robert Underwood.

“Mrs. Miller replaced a successful retiree, and although it is still somewhat early in her teaching career, the art program has continued to grow and improve because she possesses a level of expertise and dedication that are second to none,” wrote Mr. Underwood.

“Her teaching skills extend beyond that of the art-related realm and she encourages and inspires students on a daily basis,” Teri wrote in her nomination. “She encouraged us to do better and to see the world in new ways and taught me to portray these things in my artwork.”

“My teaching style is very much student driven,” said Ms. Miller. “Although each project starts with a prompt, I challenge students to create something with personal meaning. This is the point when students get hooked on art. … It is this moment when I know they understand what artwork is really about, and when they become the most driven to be successful.”