And the winners are ... Evansville's outstanding educators of the year revealed

EVANSVILLE, Ind. — "Are we ready? We got this?"

Washington Middle School Principal Michele Branson had never seen her students so quiet. The assembled students had been expecting a concert by the school band.

Instead, they learned, they were about to give teacher Lori Kassel-Reed a huge surprise.

"I hate surprises!" Kassel-Reed said after walking through the auditorium doors to a standing ovation Wednesday.

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The smile on her face and the hugs she gave said this one surprise she could make an exception for.

Kassel-Reed was one of four Vanderburgh County educators recognized for their commitment to local students.

The University of Evansville's annual Outstanding Educators of the Year awards are also sponsored by the Evansville Teachers Federal Credit Union and the Courier & Press. In their 31st 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.

'Top dawg'

Despite the large assembly gathering in Bosse High School's gym, complete with stacks of t-shirts that read "Our Top Dawg is Principal of the Year," somehow Aaron Huff remained unaware until he walked onto the basketball court amid a cloud of confetti.

Huff, 41, is in his fourth year as Bosse's principal but he has been an educator for 19 years. Before arriving at Bosse, Huff was assistant principal at North High School, and an assistant principal and then principal at North Junior High School. He has also been a counselor, an after-school site coordinator and coached football and basketball.

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An emotional Huff thanked his own teachers and family who he said poured into him daily the lessons he needed to succeed. Those included his mother, former Bosse principal Sheila Huff, and his grandmother, who both attended the assembly.

"The way I lead is the same way I was taught and raised," he said.

Huff told the students that he and Bosse staff were working hard to give them the same foundation for success.

"There are greater things beyond Bosse High School. There are greater things beyond Evansville. In order to get it you have to be prepared. We are trying to prepare you for what is going to happen next," he said. "I want kids going every which way across this country and making things happen."

Not just a job, a passion

Special education teacher Lori Kassel-Reed, 57, has been teaching for 16 years. Of those years, she has spent the last eight working with students who have experienced and are working through some type of trauma such as abuse, homelessness, incarceration or self-harm.

She is in her 10th year teaching in a district-wide program for middle school students with intense behavioral/emotional issues. Hers is one of five such classrooms in the EVSC program. Her class has been housed at Washington Middle School for the last five years.

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"Coming to Washington Middle School was truly a blessing for me," she said. "You guys are the best. Every teacher that I work with should be up here. They all give 110 percent. I love you and I'm proud of you."

She is involved in school activities outside the classroom as well. Currently, this includes being a homebound teacher, summer school teacher, spelling bee sponsor, girls track coach, and chaperone for the Cops Connecting with Kids Disney Adventure program.

"Teaching is not just a job, it's a passion," said David Smith, EVSC superintendent. "I can't think of a better example of that than everything you have done, and in your life, to represent that."

Kassel-Reed said was humbled by the award and recognition.

"In my mind, I'm just doing what I'm supposed to do," she said.

Always positive

It was the opposite of surprise at Vogel Elementary School, where the entire student body filled the gym with a joyful exuberance.

All you had to do was read the front, "And the winner is...," and then the back, "Mr. Barnett," to know who was being honored.

Winner Kenneth "Kennan" Barnett, 28, is in his fifth year as a teaching. Amy McBride, an associate professor of education at UE who coordinates the awards process, shared something Barnett said that made an impression.

"He talked about (how) no matter what your skill level is, if you have a really good work ethic and you try very hard, you are going to be successful," she said.

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Barnett started as a gym teacher. When the COVID-19 pandemic shook things up at Vogel with large numbers of students returning from virtual class, Barnett volunteered to teach second grade and fell in love with teaching a classroom.

This school year, Barnett volunteered to teach fifth grade, even though it meant getting another degree and license. He also is executive director at Camp Reveal.

"This doesn't say as much about me as it does about you guys," he said. "You guys are the best students I could ask for."

Barnett said he works not just to teach his students their lessons but to teach them life skills as well.

Principal Jeanette Lindauer told the students that Barnett — who is also studying to be a principal — represented three things she wanted them to remember: Be positive, be a team player and strive for big goals.

"It's an award I don't feel I deserve. I look around me at Vogel and they are just amazing teachers. This is as much their award as mine," Barnett said.

A lifelong passion for learning

North High School teacher Brian Bobbitt is this year's winner of Outstanding High School Teacher of the Year. He was not available for Wednesday's award presentations.

Bobbitt teaches engineering and robotic as part of Project Lead the Way (PLTW), which develops STEM curricula for K-12 teachers. For the 2019-2020 school year, he was named the National Project Lead the Way Outstanding Teacher.

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In his role as Master Teacher of the program, Bobbitt trains other teachers across the nation. He said it has proven to be beneficial to him, too, as he is always learning from those he is fortunate enough to teach.

"Simply put, I love what I do," he said. "My dad always said, 'Pick something you love to do, and you'll never have to work a day in your life.'"

Bobbitt said he has always enjoyed teaching, especially engineering. However, his favorite part of the job is watching students develop ideas and come up with their own solutions.

"For all students who make their way to the engineering labs, my goal is to ensure they leave with the ability to solve problems as well as a lifelong passion for learning more," he said.

Mark Wilson covers education and environment at the Courier & Press. Contact him at mark.wilson@courierpress.com.

This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Evansville's outstanding educators of the year are revealed