Debra Honn, third-grade teacher at Indian Village Elementary School, and Lisa Clegg, English Language Learners teacher at Northrop High School, have been named the 2020 Fort Wayne Community Schools Teachers of the Year.

Honn, the FWCS Elementary Teacher of the Year, has taught for 25 years, the past five at Indian Village. There, she revived the school’s annual science fair and started a robotics club.

“I am impressed each time I visit her classroom,” Indian Village Principal Kara Miller said. “The passion and energy she exudes to help her students learn and grow is contagious. Mrs. Honn tailors her classroom so that it is an engaging learning environment for each and every student.”

Honn said her focus in teaching is first getting to know her students and building a relationship with each of them.

“Knowing my students’ strengths, weaknesses, background and interests helps me to design learning experiences that are meaningful and measurable,” she said. “While there are many ways to reach a learner, it is my responsibility to understand which approach works with each child.”

Candidates for Teacher of the Year are nominated by building principals with finalists chosen by a committee of administrators. The other elementary finalists this year were Angela Geren, second-grade teacher at Adams Elementary School, Meghan Rusk, fifth-grade teacher at Lincoln Elementary School, and Ashley Toy, art teacher at Towles Intermediate School.

Originally published June 5, 2020 by The Waynedale News.