Support staff, Rising Stars, school partners also honored
By Andy Klotz—
MUNCIE, IN—Muncie Community Schools (MCS) has named the Teachers of the Year at each of its schools for the 2024-25 school year. All award recipients were presented with commemorative plaques by their building principals and now become eligible for the overall district Teacher of the Year awards, which will be presented at the start of the 2025-26 school year.
This year’s recipients are:
- Devon Barbosa – North View Elementary
- Jake Hendershot – West View Elementary
- Jamie Brimbury – Longfellow Elementary
- Lisa Bilby – Grissom Elementary
- Michelle Bergren – East Washington Academy
- Mary Kult – South View Elementary
- Anthony Harter – Northside Middle School
- Monica Welcher – Southside Middle School
- Kate Hughes – Muncie Central High School
- Conner Polk – Muncie Area Career Center
“I am so proud to work alongside these outstanding educators,” MCS Director of Public Education and CEO Dr. Chuck Reynolds said. “These folks pour their hearts and souls into their profession, and they get the best out of our students. They inspire me every day.”
The recipients were all nominated by their teaching peers and chosen from a group of finalists based on certain criteria. Each Teacher of the Year will receive an additional $1,000 in salary. At the beginning of next school year, MCS administrators will select two district Teachers of the Year – one for primary grades and one for secondary grades – who will each receive an additional $1,000 in salary.
Each school has also named a Rising Star, Support Person of the Year and a Partner in Education. Here is the list of those honorees:
Longfellow Elementary:
Rising Star – Isabelle Goyette
Support Person of the Year – Shyanne Kendall
Partner in Education – Kiwanis Club of Muncie
Grissom Elementary:
Rising Star – Julianna Small
Support Person of the Year – Toni Davis
Partner in Education – The Bridge Community Church
North View Elementary:
Rising Star – Samantha Hiatt
Support Person of the Year – Amber Smith
Partner in Education – Katie Odey
South View Elementary:
Rising Star – Jett McClaskey
Support Person of the Year – Vanessa Ramirez
Partner in Education – Autumn Learned
West View Elementary:
Rising Star – Kelli Drake
Support Person of the Year – Toni Perkins
Partner in Education – Amber Bertram
East Washington Academy:
Rising Star – Tiara Taylor & Michale Kissick
Support Person of the Year – Josh Collins
Partner in Education – Scott Dueker
Northside Middle School:
Rising Star – Blake Wright
Support Person of the Year – Charles Kirk
Partner in Education – Northside PTO
Southside Middle School:
Rising Star – Abigail Simpson
Support Person of the Year – James Hollis
Partner in Education – City Life
Muncie Central High School:
Rising Star – Kayla Howard
Support Person of the Year – Molly Davis
Partner in Education – YMCA
Students return to MCS for the first day of school Wednesday, August 6.
About Muncie Community Schools
Serving the local community since 1855, Muncie Community Schools (MCS) educates more than 5,000 students at six elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school while also managing several other educational facilities. Through its unique partnership with Ball State University, MCS strives to maximize each student’s potential so he or she can be a positive, productive member of society. Find out more about MCS at muncieschools.org.
