Teachers Recognized ahead of New School Year

With most schools starting back up at the end of the month, the Muskingum Valley Administrators met to honor exemplary teachers Monday.

Sixteen teachers received a stipend and an award in recognition of their work furthering the education of young kids. It happened during the Muskingum Valley Educational Service Center Administrators breakfast.

One of the teachers who received the award is Mary Beth Hickerson. After 36 years at Morgan Elementary, she retired at the end of last year. She felt humbled and honored by the recognition.

“In the morning, if you’re having a bad day, you know that your students are going to be there and they always brighten your day coming in saying good morning and can’t wait for the day to start,” Hickerson said. “Then they make your day go better for the rest of the day. It was wonderful couldn’t have done it without them, that’s for sure.”

After demonstrating strong teaching characteristics such as inspiring collaboration between students and being a role model for the, the teachers were nominated by their schools, and then the districts. East Muskingum 3rd grade teacher Kim Slack, has been teaching for 27 years.

“It’s very humbling because I don’t think most people go into education to have a financial gain or notoriety, so when somebody notices what you do in the classroom, it’s very unique,” Slack said.

Here is a list of all of the teachers who were honored Monday:

Helen Boyd, Coshocton City Schools; Karen Overholt, Coshocton County Career Center; Chris Baughman, Crooksville Exempted Village Schools; Kim Slack, East Muskingum Local Schools; Nick Ripple, Franklin Local Schools; Alisa Copeland, Maysville Local Schools; Katherine Lucas, Mid-East Career and Technology Centers; Mary Beth Hickerson, Morgan Local Schools; Jeff Baker, Muskingum Valley ESC; Shelley Wollenberg, New Lexington City Schools; Allyson Blevins, Northern Local Schools; Julie Feldner, Ridgewood Local Schools; Cindy Hemming, River View Local Schools; Michelle Curtis, Tri-Valley Local Schools; Josh Whetstone, West Muskingum Local Schools and Megan Witucky, Zanesville City Schools.