Support staff, others 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 2025-26 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 2026-27 school year.
This year’s recipients are:
- Nancy Zachary – North View Elementary
- Heather Crain – West View Elementary
- Andrea Streaty – Longfellow Elementary
- Jodi Gray – Grissom Elementary
- Tiara Taylor – East Washington Academy
- Tierra Love – South View Elementary
- Jay Coles – Northside Middle School
- Abigail Simpson – Southside Middle School
- Morgan Leckie – Muncie Central High School
- Jeff Lacy – Muncie Area Career Center
“We are so incredibly blessed with talented, dedicated teachers in Muncie,” MCS Director of Public Education and CEO Dr. Chuck Reynolds said. “Our district has had some historic academic gains recently, and each one of these educators has played a significant part in that progress. I’m extremely proud to work alongside them.”
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 additional compensation as a result of this award. 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 another monetary award.
Each school also recognized other “persons of the year,” including a Rising Star, Support Person, Partner in Education and Building Substitute. Here is the list of those honorees:
Longfellow Elementary:
Rising Star – Sydnie Zorn
Partner in Education – Candy Dodd
Support Person of the Year – Deanna Cole, Pam Davis, Sharon Schultz, Wilma Underhill
Substitute of the Year – Gemma Rees
Grissom Elementary:
Partner in Education – Gina Charles
Support Person of the Year – Briana Pryor and Sierra Watson
Substitute of the Year – N/A
North View Elementary:
Rising Star – Chaylee Smith
Partner in Education – Katie Hobbs
Support Person of the Year – Jessica Spears
Substitute of the Year – Caidance Luster
South View Elementary:
Rising Star – Macy Serf
Partner in Education – Dr. Kathryn Fletcher
Support Person of the Year – Cara Juarez
Substitute of the Year – Justin Person
West View Elementary:
Rising Star – Claudia Upchurch
Partner in Education – Patricia Sutton
Support Person of the Year – Melissa Armstrong
Substitute of the Year – Christine Ellsworth
East Washington Academy:
Rising Star – Tiara Taylor
Partner in Education – Madison Dulworth and Abby Huff
Support Person of the Year – Stefanie O’Nieal
Substitute of the Year – Elizabeth Jared
Northside Middle School:
Rising Star – Grace Johnson
Partner in Education – Meridian Health
Support Person of the Year – Elie Gerth
Substitute of the Year – Margie Frank
Southside Middle School:
Rising Star – Grant Berry
Partner in Education – Lacey Ladd (Marian University)
Support Person of the Year – Alexis Haynes
Substitute of the Year – Cindy Reinhart
Muncie Central High School:
Rising Star – Sophie Richardson
Partner in Education – Hillcorft Pre-ETS
Support Person of the Year – Jacob Thornburg and Sarah Tinder
Substitute of the Year – Melba Fox
Muncie Area Career Center/Youth Opportunity Center:
Rising Star – Larry Johnson
Partner in Education – Mursix Corporation
Support Person of the Year – Debbie Badders and Lynn Engle
Substitute of the Year – Erin Smith
The 2025-26 school year ended May 22. The first day back to school for students is Wednesday, August 12.
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.
