Evansville's Outstanding Educator of the Year 2023: Here are the 3 principal finalists
Each year, four Vanderburgh County educators are recognized for their love of teaching and commitment to local students.
The Outstanding Educators of the Year awards are sponsored by Liberty Federal Credit Union, the Courier & Press and the University of Evansville. In their 32nd year, the awards honor the dedication and contributions of Vanderburgh County K-12 educators at public and nonpublic schools that have at least three years in the profession.
Awards are given in four categories: elementary school, middle school, high school and principal. Winners will be announced later in the spring.
More:Evansville's Outstanding Educator of the Year 2023: Here are the 3 middle school finalists
Meet this year's principal finalists for Outstanding Educator of the Year:
Chris Gibson, principal, New Tech Institute High School
How many years have you been an educator?
I have been an educator for 24 years.
What was your background in education before starting your current role?
I served eight years as a science teacher at Reitz High School, where I taught biology, chemistry, integrated chemistry/physics, anatomy and advanced biology. Then I was the school counselor at Dexter for two years, counselor at Central for four years, and I’m currently in my tenth year as principal of New Tech Institute High School.
What made you decide you wanted to be an educator?
Throughout my K-12 education I had many influential teachers: Barb Marr, Sharon Tuggle, Vicki Snyder, Art Adye and Wayne Deig, just to mention a few. Also, my mother taught nursing for 32 years, and she was an amazing role model.
Growing up, my plan was to be a pediatrician, but I always had a strong interest in being a teacher. Educators have such an enormous opportunity to make a positive impact in the lives of students and ultimately, I’ve worked to increase my positive impact for students in each step along my career path.
What are the challenges you face in education today? And how do you overcome them?
As a classroom teacher I never wanted to hear the question, “When am I ever going to use this in real life?” because that meant the material wasn’t relevant. Relating educational content to students’ everyday lives may not be the biggest obstacle in education, but when instruction does connect to the real world it has the potential to overcome obstacles.
When students see relevance to their work, they’re more likely to come to school and they’re more likely to engage in the work when they see that it matters. Relevant instruction gives students a focus for what they’re doing, and can help them frame how they can put that knowledge to use in their careers.
What’s your favorite thing about being an educator?
When I witness students growing and succeeding – whether academically, socially or emotionally – it is rewarding and fulfilling. Whether it was seeing a student learn to read during my years as an elementary school counselor, or watching a freshman grow and mature into a high school graduate, or rooting on a senior as they earn a scholarship, college acceptance, or workplace success, anytime a student reaches a goal it validates the work, effort, and time that educators – and family and friends – have invested in that student.
Seeing students experience success is my favorite part of being an educator.
What makes you unique in your field?
Leading a small high school involves a multitude of simultaneous roles. In addition to being the principal, I also am responsible for academic programming, academic coaching and discipline, among other responsibilities.
At various times throughout my leadership at New Tech I’ve even served as the counselor (full-time and part-time) and one year as the robotics coach.
Our student population is such that everybody knows one another, and the staff is a close-knit community. I give all of the credit to our amazing team of educators and staff that make our school an outstanding place for students to learn.
More:Evansville's Outstanding Educator of the Year 2023: Here are the 3 elementary finalists
Tijuana Tolliver, principal, Lincoln Community School
How many years have you been an educator?
I have been an educator for a total of 41 years. I started my teaching career at Earle C. Clements Job Corps Center, where I taught for two years. I was a middle school teacher for 17 years. I was an assistant principal for five years. I have been a principal for a total of 17 years.
What was your background in education before starting your current role?
I retired June 5, 2020 from Stockwell Elementary School after serving as its principal for 15 years. The reason I retired in 2020 was to assist my father, Dr. Anthony Brooks, Sr. My father passed away three months after I retired. My love for education continued. I missed being a part of a school community. In October 2021, I was asked to become principal of Lincoln Community School. I accepted the position and have been blessed to continue at Lincoln this year.
What made you decide you wanted to be an educator?
I became an educator because I watched my dad and mom work in the school corporation. My father was a teacher and an administrator in the EVSC. My mother was a special education assistant for many years in the EVSC. My parents taught me the importance of having an education. I remember them telling me that "knowledge is something that can't be taken from you."
Being an educator is also a way to give service to others which is a lesson I was taught as well.
What are the challenges you face in education today? And how do you overcome them?
There are many challenges educators face each day. One of the challenges is students entering school at so many different levels. It is very hard to catch students up when they enter far behind.
Our goal is to meet students where they are and that happens, however to move students to where they need to be is challenging. We have put in place interventions, tutoring, small group instruction and have provided resources for parents to use at home.
What’s your favorite thing about being an educator?
Getting to see the seeds I have planted bloom. Seeing my former students being successful makes me proud. Seeing my former teachers become administrators makes me proud.
I have four former teachers that are currently administrators in our corporation. I have former students who are now teachers and administrators, that makes me very proud! I love watching my teachers teach a concept and then seeing the reaction of students when they "get" it. That makes me proud.
What makes you unique in your field?
I have been blessed to be an educator for more than 40 years. I have loved every job I've had and every school I've been a part of. I am able to find the difficult balance of nurturing my students and having high expectations for them, out of love and care, definitely not power.
Hannah Kirkman, principal, Fairlawn Elementary School
How many years have you been an educator?
This is my 11th year in education and all have been with EVSC.
What was your background in education before starting your current role?
I started out as a special education teacher at AIS Middle School. After four years in that role, I transitioned to principal of AIS Middle School and served for six years. This is my first year as the principal of Fairlawn Elementary.
What made you decide you wanted to be an educator?
Ever since I can remember I wanted to be a teacher. I would always make my brother play school with me and I also dressed up as a teacher for every career day. When I was in the eighth grade, I started volunteering at Evansville ARC which led me to become passionate about special education. As I became older, I never steered away from my goal of wanting to be a teacher. I truly feel like I was called to it right from the beginning and I feel very blessed to be in a career where I love what I do.
What are the challenges you face in education today? And how do you overcome them?
When you are an educator, it is sometimes easy to get lost in all of the distractions that come with being in the field.
I always try to remind myself and others to only focus on those things within our control and to be intentional about where time is spent. Being an educator is important work, so I try to ensure that I am spending my time on the right and most important things with the hope that I can have the most positive impact for my students, my staff, and my families.
What’s your favorite thing about being an educator?
By far my most favorite thing about being an educator is working with the students, the staff, and the families. I love being a part of a school community where we are all working together in the same direction, towards the same goal of helping each of our students be successful.
I truly enjoy every minute I get to spend in classrooms and at school events supporting students, staff and families in reaching their goals and cheering them on along the way.
What makes you unique in your field?
There are so many amazing educators out there − many that I have had the opportunity to collaborate with and learn from. So much of who I am today as an educator is because of the many wonderful people that I have been blessed to work with in the EVSC.
I feel like I am still learning and growing daily as an educator and I am thankful to EVSC for that piece, as well.
One thing that you could say is unique about me is that I have always had a passion for working with students who may need a little more support and encouragement.
This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Evansville's Outstanding Educator of the Year 2022: Principal finalists
