Here are Vanderburgh County's 2023 Educators of the Year
EVANSVILLE — Four educators in the Evansville Vanderburgh County School Corporation were surprised Wednesday morning with news of their wins as Educators of the Year.
The competition, sponsored by the University of Evansville, Evansville Liberty Federal Credit Union and the Courier & Press, is in its 32nd year.
Vanderburgh County classroom teachers and principals in grades K-12 with at least three years of experience were eligible for nomination.
This years winners are Briana Campbell, Jance Johnston, Timothy Wilhelmus and Chris Gibson. Each received giant checks worth $1,000 apiece.
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Elementary Teacher of the Year: Briana Campbell, Lodge Community School
First grade teacher Briana Campbell has spent two years at Lodge Community School, but she's been in the education field for a decade.
Wednesday morning she gathered in the gym at Lodge thinking they were there to celebrate learning milestones for her students. But she quickly discovered she would be the one celebrated.
Campbell's been noticed by her peers during her time at Lodge, with her coworkers saying her work goes beyond the classroom. One comment in her nomination stated, "I cannot say enough wonderful things about Briana, nor can I think of a more deserving educator.”
In her classroom, Campbell teaches reading, writing, math and social emotional learning.
She also teaches students who require additional academic and behavioral support. Outside of the classroom, Campbell has taken in one in as a foster child.
"One of Campbell’s main focuses as a teacher is assuring that the children know they are safe, loved, and believed in," a news release from University of Evansville stated. "She greets each student with a hug or a fist bump and is a firm believer in mutual respect."
Those gathered Wednesday saw that first hand as each of her first-graders handed her a rose, and she returned that gesture with a hug.
Campbell took the time to thank her family, as well as say how welcoming the school has been to her over the past two years.
"I love my team, I love our kids and I love our community," she said.
Middle School Teacher of the Year: Jance Johnston, Delaware Elementary School
Sixth grade teacher Jance Johnston has been teaching for nine years, all at Delaware Elementary.
He teaches English language arts, math and science. He's also an afterschool teacher, sixth-grade boys' basketball coach, inclusion teacher and summer schoolteacher.
Thinking he was meeting in the auditorium for a sixth grade meeting, Johnston was surprised by his family and all the sixth grade students at Delaware.
Johnston told the group his mom had recently found a paper from when he was in fifth grade that stated his desire to be a teacher when he grew up.
"I always said a teacher," he said.
Johnston's teaching philosophy emphasizes building relationships with students. He works to know the students better to cater to their needs in the classroom.
His work in school activities such as 3D printing, gardening, cooking and coaching offer him the chance to build those relationships.
"He believes that these activities offer opportunities to find common ground with students, earn mutual respect and trust, and better understand their emotions," the release stated. "This approach helps maintain an efficient and focused classroom that is ready to learn."
Johnston said there are ups and downs in education, but when students come back or email him about the impact he had, it makes for a fulfilling career.
High School Teacher of the Year: Timothy Wilhelmus, Central High School
Tim Wilhelmus has been teaching for 31 years, the last three spent teaching 11th and 12th grade at Central High School.
Outside of the classroom, Wilhelmus sponsors the creative writer's guild and Imagineering club. He also serves on multiple committees, including Equal Opportunity Schools, Advancement Via Individual Determination and the Medical Professions Academy.
Wilhelmus teaches English language arts, AP literature and the AVID elective: a class that supports "traditionally underrepresented students" to develop skills for honors and college-level coursework.
Many of those students met in the commons at Central to celebrate Wilhelmus Wednesday morning.
"I'm so lucky to be here," Wilhelmus said to them. "I love this school."
Wilhelmus said teaching is an amazing profession and he looks forward to coming to work everyday.
"That's because of you guys," he said. "I'm so grateful to get to be with you everyday, and see you, even when you make me crazy. I'm still happy you're there and I'm still happy I'm there with you."
After thanking his family, and saying that his wife probably assumed he would spend the cash portion of the win on more items for his classroom, he thanked everyone for coming that morning.
"You're beautiful," he said. "I love you all."
Building Administrator of the Year: Chris Gibson, New Tech Institute
Chris Gibson is a 24-year veteran educator, with eight years in the classroom, six as a counselor and now 10 in administration.
As the principal of New Tech, he leads a school of about 275 students. During his introduction Wednesday, Gibson was recognized for doing much outside of the purview of his job description.
Items like calling students for a wake up when they've been struggling to get to school on time and sponsoring a robotics team at Lodge school.
"As the leader of an innovative project-based learning school, he continues to place a strong emphasis on connecting learning to the real world, highlighting how students can apply what they have learned in practical ways," the news release states.
Gibson helped launch the Makerspace and Entrepreneurial Academy Advisory Council, and he also served as the coach for the FIRST robotics league team. Gibson also formed the Diversity and Equity Team at New Tech institute in 2021.
"This is a great honor," he said. "But it can't be done without a great team."
Gibson said the staff and team at New Tech is amazing, and he would be happy with any of them teaching his own two children.
He also recognized the students at New Tech, which are made up of kids from multiple school corporations and counties.
"I love each and every one of you," he said. "You make me want to support you. I just genuinely appreciate the fact that you've chosen to be here at New Tech and that we're a close-knit family."
This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Here are Vanderburgh County's 2023 Educators of the Year
