WYRZ.org 98.9 WYRZ – The Voice of Hendricks County
AVON, IN (JULY 26, 2016) – Avon High School Teacher Chris Hill was named Avon Community School Corporation’s Teacher of the Year for 2015-16. The announcement came during an all-employee Back-to-School Celebration. He was chosen by a committee comprised of community members.
Mr. Hill has taught in Avon for 10 years, currently teaching Engineering Technology and is also a Project Lead the Way teacher. He sponsors the Avon Robotics Club which was the recipient of a NASA Grant, earned a State Championship and had a Top 50 Robot in the World winner. Mr. Hill is the legislative chair for the Indiana Association for Career and Technical Education and was a recipient of the Lilly Foundation Teacher Creativity Fellowship in 2015. In addition, he has won the Donors Choose Duke Energy STEM Grant, PwC Foundations for Financial Literacy Grant, Avon Education Foundation Grant and the Microsoft Choose to Code Beta Testing Award. Mr. Hill received his bachelor’s degree from Indiana State University in 2006 and his master’s degree from Ball State in 2012.
This year’s Back-to-School Celebration included a special announcement for the Teacher of the Year Award program: Andy Mohr (Andy Mohr Automotive Group) told the crowd of about 800 employees that his company is the new sponsor. An annual $5,000 award will be distributed among the District Teacher of the Year and other finalists. Mr. Mohr presented Chris Hill with a crystal award and check. Mr. Hill also received a gift from the Sharon Pinnick Educational Fund, (Hendricks County Community
Foundation) and the Avon Rotary Club. In addition, Flowered Occasions donated a floral arrangement.
The other candidates (who were previously selected as their buildings’
Teacher of the Year) included: Joshua Deisler (Avon Middle School North); Holly Baker (Avon Middle School South); Michelle Howard (Avon Intermediate School East); Serena Runions (Avon Intermediate School West); Ashlee Tucker (Cedar Elementary); Stephanie Fetzer (Hickory Elementary); Janet Craig (Maple Elementary); Bobby Coppadge (River Birch Elementary); Sarah Altman (Sycamore Elementary); and Kelly Mitchell (White Oak Elementary); and Lori Karnuta (Pine Tree Elementary).
Avon Community School Corporation submitted Mr. Hill’s impressive portfolio to the Indiana Department of Education for the state’s selection process of the Indiana Teacher of the Year award.
Avon Community School Corporation (ACSC) offers children high quality educational instruction with a keen focus on improving student achievement. More than 9,300 students are served in grades Pre-K-12 in 12 schools (seven elementary; two intermediate; two middle and one high school). ACSC operates on a balanced calendar schedule. Visit the ACSC website at www.avon-schools.org.
