Two Indian Creek teachers were recognized at last week’s school board meeting for their contributions and positive impact on Indian Creek Schools.
Essential Skills Teacher Sharon Hogue and Special Education Teacher Shellie Parr were honored with Indian Creek’s You Make a Difference Award.
Shellie Parr was honored for helping a recent Indian Creek graduate during a car crash in front of Board President Thomas Burgett’s farm on June 30. Burgett shared an email he sent to Superintendent Matthew Prusiecki the day after it happened.
Parr was one of, if not the first one on the scene when a vehicle left the roadway and flipped multiple times, Burgett said. Parr, who was behind the vehicle before it crashed, stayed with the graduate and helped her coordinate calls with her family, locate her belongings and keep her calm until medics arrived, Burgett said. Fortunately, the driver was not seriously injured and sustained only minor lacerations.
Parr was honored for going beyond the call of duty as a teacher and helping out when she didn’t have to.
“Your willingness to stop and help shows teachers are heroes too,” Burgett said.
Sharon Hogue was moved to tears listening to letters sent in from families to honor her with the recognition. Everybody knows or has felt the “huge difference” that Hogue has made, Principal Luke Skobel said.
“When I thought about somebody that makes a difference in our community, I couldn’t think of anybody that deserved this more than you do,” Skobel told Hogue at the school board meeting. Skobel asked others to share how Hogue has impacted their lives through written letters.
One letter credited Hogue for building a culture and community at Indian Creek that celebrates and includes every student. Hogue took a simple idea of holding a student convocation about inclusion and transformed Indian Creek, the letter reads. Hogue helped create the united sound and unified sports programs at Indian Creek, to which the author of the letter credits her for the “immeasurable impact” on students and the district.
Beyond district lines, other schools have been inspired by Indian Creek’s unified activities and have adopted similar programs, the letter says.
Hogue has been an advocate for change for many children at Indian Creek, another letter reads. For one family with a special needs child, Hogue has been and continues to be a part of their village, despite their child being graduated, the letter says.
“Our child would not have the opportunity she now enjoys, like having a job, improved communication skills and an opportunity to come back and mentor younger kids at Sharon’s [Hogue] class to show and demonstrate what is possible when you have support in someone like Sharon Hogue in your community,” the letter says.
Another letter says it is “overwhelming” to think about the difference that Hogue has had on the community. Hogue has gone above and beyond what would be expected of a teacher, the letter continues. She has taught them, laughed with them, praised them, cried with them, worried over them and everything in between, the letter says.
The families who wrote letters joined Hogue at the school board meeting for the honor. Through tears, Hogue said it wouldn’t be possible without the support of fellow staff, parents and the district.
“This is my second home,” Hogue said.
