COLUMBUS, Ind. — BCSC Teacher of the Year Mindy Summers has been working in education for the past 20 years.
And for almost all of that time, she has worked for the exact same school corporation, at the exact same school, teaching the exact same subject — seventh and eighth grade language arts at Central Middle School.
After graduating from college in December of 1999, Summers worked in the reading room of the ABC-Stewart School for a semester. The following August, she was hired by the Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. and started teaching language arts at Central. She is now in her 21st year at the school.
During her first year, the position was temporary. The next year, it was part-time. Then, after another teacher retired, it became a full-time job. The rest is history.
For Summers, teaching was a natural fit.
“I just remember elementary school and teachers being so happy to see every student each day, and I felt like I belonged there,” she said. “I enjoyed the routine. I have fond memories of criss-cross applesauce, teachers sharing stories, learning new things, making friends. And then, high school, I just remember those teachers who saw potential in me, even when I didn’t see it in myself.”
For more on this story, see Wednesday’s Republic.
