It’s the icing on the cake — literally.
When you walk by Karen Nading’s family and consumer science classroom on the second floor of Columbus East High School, be prepared for the sweet aroma of yeast cinnamon rolls fresh out of the oven. Later on, listen for a choir of sewing machines sing as students sew their own creations to perfection.
Whatever it is, if it’s made in Nading’s classroom, it’s made with love.
For 44 years, Nading has taught family and consumer science courses to hundreds of students. From teaching students how to change a tire to filing their taxes, it’s easy to assume that Nading has done it all.
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That’s why being named the 2019 recipient of the Edna V. Folger Outstanding Teacher Award came as such a shock to Nading — because she thought she had done it all.
"This is just the icing on the cake," said Nading, who accepted the award at the Columbus Area Chamber of Commerce’s 110th annual meeting. "I know the teachers in the past who have received this award. It’s an honor and humbling."
A Hope native and farm girl since birth, Nading had only two careers in mind as a young girl. She either wanted to be a family and consumer science teacher or work for Purdue Extension.
"I thank my lucky stars that my dream came true," Nading said. "It’s been my love ever since."
Growing up on a farm, Nading loved food. More specifically, she loved standing next to her mother as she would cook dinner using the fresh fruits and vegetables they had just pulled from their garden.
The oldest of four children, when Nading’s mother would step away from the house, Nading was in charge. She called those some of the best days.
"I would always wait for her to leave because the kitchen became my laboratory," she said.
Nading started her teaching career after earning both her bachelor’s and master’s degree from Ball State University in 1975. Her first job out of college was teaching alongside her former family and consumer science teacher, Betty Burney, at Hauser High School.
Nading hopped around various Bartholomew County schools, including Columbus North High School and Northside Middle School, before eventually settling down at Columbus East in 1978.
Looking back on her decision to teach family and consumer science, Nading said it came easy. She said the subject is needed more than ever as families and teenagers seek direction in healthy decision making and essential living skills.
"The corporate world calls those skills ‘soft skills,’ but they are more than soft," Nading said. "It’s all about sustainability in family. If you would look at society today, what is it that has fallen apart, that has caused the opioid addictions? What is not stable in our society?"
Nading said she always sees articles about bringing home economics back to local schools, but she said it has never left. In fact, she said it’s on students and families to seek it out themselves.
"I tell my students, ‘Every day you can walk out of my classroom with something that’s going to affect your life,’" Nading said.
"You’re going to be able to use these skills for the rest of your life. I know what I teach is important and that’s why I want to share it with the students because I know it will make a difference in their lives," she said.
As a matter of fact, Nading’s lessons are making a difference. She said at least seven of her former students are teaching family and consumer science courses at other schools. One colleague noted in the presentation of the Folger award that Nading is a "true inspiration and encourages others to reach their greatest potential."
"Quite simply, she builds people," the colleague was quoted in the award presentation.
It’s that same drive that led the Indiana Association of Family and Consumer Sciences to name her as its 2012 Teacher of the Year. East Principal Mark Newell said then of the honor that Nading dedicates many hours to helping her students achieve these necessary life skills.
"To her, it’s all about the kids," Newell said in 2012.
Nading’s favorite memory, she recalled, was when a man and his family were walking through Walmart and he pointed to Nading and said, "That lady, you’re Mrs. Nading aren’t you?"
"I said, ‘Yes, I’m Mrs. Nading," she said. "He goes, ‘Thank you so much for teaching my wife how to cook!’ Hopefully I did more than teach them how to cook, but it was a special moment."
Beyond learning how to cook or sew or calculate the loss of weight after dehydrating apples, Nading wants her students to leave her classroom with a smile on their face. She wants it to be the class they learned something in. Most importantly, she wants students to know their teacher cared about them.
"They say you found your love in life when you go to work and it doesn’t feel like a job," she said. "I look forward to getting up in the morning and going to school."
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”About Karen Nading” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Karen Nading
Age: 65
Hometown: Hope
Family: Husband, Steve Nading; daughters, Laura and Katelin
Favorite past time: Growing and arranging flowers
Favorite flower: Sunflower
[sc:pullout-text-end][sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”About the Edna V. Folger Outstanding Teacher Award” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
The Edna V. Folger Outstanding Teacher Award honors a classroom teacher or educator working in a public, private or parochial school in Bartholomew County.
The annual award is designed to raise awareness about the immeasurable influence educators have on their students and to recognize the image of educators as important community role models.
Source: IUPUC
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