Center Grove Interim Supt. Bill Long presents 2024 Teacher of the Year Dan Andersen with a $1,000 check to spend for his classroom on Wednesday.
Submitted photos
Center Grove Community School Corp. honored teachers and staff from across the district last week.
Dan Andersen, choral music director for Middle School Central, was named the district’s 2023-24 Teacher of the Year during the district’s annual employee celebration. For the award, Center Grove High School seniors nominate the teacher they believe had the greatest impact on them during their time in Center Grove schools, according to a news release.
“It is quite an honor to be named the Teacher of the Year for the Center Grove School Corporation,” Andersen said in a statement. “To be chosen from the hundreds of incredible teachers in Center Grove is very humbling.”
As Teacher of the Year, Andersen will receive $1,000, courtesy of Wallman Financial LLC, to spend in his classroom. He will represent Center Grove in the Indiana Teacher of the Year competition. This is his 30th year teaching at Center Grove, the news release says.
“Dan Anderson has had an indelible impact on many, many Center Grove students during his 30-year tenure,” Dr. Bill Long, interim superintendent, said in a statement. “He works to see the whole child, not just the choir student in front of him. This helps him build lasting connections with his students.”
The district also honored Teacher of the Year winners from individual buildings, Support Staff of the Year winners and Legacy Award honorees.
Support Staff Employees of the Year are:
- Jessica Coffey, Center Grove Elementary School
- Bobbie Firrie, Maple Grove
- Greg Wampler, North Grove
- Kathy Freudenstein, Pleasant Grove
- Joyce Hartman, Sugar Grove
- Vicki Ortega, Middle School North
- Maria Sichting, Center Grove High School
- Nicole Eckerty, Middle School Central
- Lisa Allison, Walnut Grove
- Lena Triwedi, Educational Service Center
- Sarah Suggs, The Academy at Sugar Grove
Building Teachers of the Year are:
- David Marquez, Middle School North
- Jessica Raber, Pleasant Grove
- Samantha Henry, Maple Grove
- Christy Bailey, North Grove
- Kelly Blakely, Developmental Preschool
- Erin Brown, Sugar Grove
- Jennifer Casselman, Center Grove High School
- Rebekah Smith, Center Grove Elementary
- Katie Chrenko, Walnut Grove
- Dan Andersen, Middle School Central
Center Grove also honored 78 current, former, and retired teachers with Legacy Awards.
Honorees are Stephen Blackburn, Samantha Dikeman, Shannon Nunnelly, Rebekah Smith, Jennifer Taylor, Rose Tomishima, Teresa West, Carrie Dilley, Bernard Doyle, Edward Gunner Erwin, Elizabeth Leavitt, Stacey Raftery, Johnny Dustin Russell, Angela Williamson, Clarke Chafin, Amanda Gainey, Luann Luck, Sandra Serpico, Suanne Chastain, Jennifer Fields, Heather Garvey, Amber Hassett, Jordan Johnson, Nicole Montfort, Ashlee Miller, Harold (Doug) Wooton, Daniel Andersen, Amy Daugherty, Jennifer Ferguson, Kevin Gaughan, John (Will) Hibner, Erin Klingshirn, Brandon Painter, Stacie Painter, Susan Porter, Gary Robinson, Christopher Shadday, Julie Shaver, Heather Storey, Bryan Turner, Lindsey Wissel, Audra Wood, Michael Bolla, January Bowen, Pamela Calvert, Elizabeth Flath, Andrew Krummen, Martin (Mitch) McCoy, Travis McMahen, Andrew McRoberts, Alison Oppenheimer, Jeffrey Peterson, Kelli Swigert, Margaret (Meg) Witt, Keenan Plew, Bradford Buskirk, Michelle Carter, Katie DeArmitt, Susanne Ebacher-Grier, Summer Ehresman, Carol Galyan, Courtney Gradert, Alan Hagedorn, Eric Howe, Gregory Jansen, Nicholas Lyon, Lesley McDougal, Josie McSherry, Alisha Milligan, Danielle Munn, Toby Rumple, Joseph Rushka, Kevin Schuessler, Heidi Shackleford, Joshua Surface, Sarah Terrell and Catherine Zenor.
Jason Mueller and Blake Mayfield were given awards posthumously.
