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Teacher of the Year

Each year, the Indiana Department of Education conducts this special program to recognize outstanding classroom teachers from across the state. School City of Mishawaka participates in this recognition program by honoring and nominating one elementary teacher (grades PreK-6) and one secondary teacher (grades 7-12) to be a representative at the state level of the program. 

Nominations are made by SCM staff members starting in March. A selection committee of administrators, Mishawaka Education Association representatives, parents, a school board member, and past Teacher the the Year winners then evaluates each nominee and selects a winner in April. This person will then compete against teachers across the state to represent Indiana in the national Teacher of the Year competition.

The best thing about being a teacher is that it matters and the hardest thing about being a teacher is that it matters every day.

Todd Whitaker (Author of What Great Teachers Do Differently)

2024 Elementary Teacher of the Year

Karey Bultinck
1st Grade Teacher
Beiger Elementary School

2024 Secondary Teacher of the Year

Mike Buchmann
Ceramics & Intro to 3D Art Teacher
Mishawaka High School

Previous Teacher of the Year Recipients

Year Teacher School
2024

Karey Bultinck (Elementary)
Mike Buchmann (Secondary)

Beiger Elementary School
Mishawaka High School
2023 Ryan Mitchell (Elementary)
Randy Ebright (Secondary)
Hums/Battell Elementary Schools
Mishawaka High School
2022

Angelina Lazovich (Elementary)
Ben Modlin (Secondary)

Beiger Elementary School
Mishawaka High School

2021 Robyn Futa (Elementary)
Kaleb Chamberlin (Secondary)
Beiger Elementary School
Mishawaka High School & JYMS
2020 M. Clare Fields (Elementary)
Abigail Bill (Secondary)
Battell Elementary School
Mishawaka High School
2019 Nicole Brown (Elementary)
Matthew Rendall (Secondary)
Beiger Elementary School
Mishawaka High School
2018 Sara Hoover (Elementary)
Beth Schwitz (Secondary)
Beiger Elementary School
John Young Middle School
2017 Ryan Sergeant Mishawaka High School
2016 Jessica Mann Mishawaka High School
2015 Eric Johnson LaSalle Elementary School
2014 Stacy Brown Beiger Elementary School
2013 Ron Gill John Young Middle School
2012 David Weber Beiger Elementary School
2011 Suzanne Dolembo Mishawaka High School
2010 Sandu Harrell Twin Branch Elementary School
2009 Sara Hoover Beiger Elementary School
2008 Tracey Iams Joint Services Campus
2007 Roxy Artusi LaSalle Elementary School
2006 Shelly Sparrow Hums Elementary School
2005 Ed Chamberlin Mishawaka High School
2004 Linda Risner Hums Elementary School
2003 Tressa Decker Twin Branch Elementary School
2002 Judit Byers John Young Middle School
2001 John Manuszak Mishawaka High School
2000 Nancy Darr Hums Elementary School
1999 Robert Ernst Beiger Elementary School
1998 Karen Watson Beiger Elementary School
1997 Sheila Bottorf Mishawaka High School
1996 Kay Davidson Twin Branch Elementary School
1995 Caryn Ellison Twin Branch Elementary School
1994 John Gleissner John Young Middle School
1993 Cheryl Torok Fleming
Edward Fleming
Beiger Elementary School
John Young Middle School
1992 Juanita Ernst Mishawaka High School
1991 Nancy Olson Mary Phillips School
1990 Janet Doi LaSalle Elementary School
1989 Marcia DeGeeter Mishawaka High School
1988 Marian Norris LaSalle Elementary School