On May 17, prior to the regular board meeting, the Warsaw Community Schools (WCS) school board held a graduation celebration to highlight several groups of teachers, administrators, parents and community members for their work over the past several months.
First, the board recognized the inaugural class of Tiger Ambassadors. Each WCS building assisted with selecting the 15 Tiger Ambassadors, which included community members, parents and industry partners. The program aimed to provide a behind-the-scenes look at WCS while promoting goodwill and understanding. The ambassadors participated in on-site field trips, lunch-and-learn meetings and a job shadowing day as a principal. The lunch-and-learns provided ambassadors with a deeper understanding of academic metrics of success, operations of transportation and food service, facility planning and school budgets. WCS looks forward to welcoming a new group of Tiger Ambassadors in the fall.
Next, WCS recognized 53 total teacher and administrator master's degree graduates. In the fall of 2021, WCS established three cohorts in collaboration with Bluffton University and Indiana State University. Utilizing ESSER grant funds, 18-month degree programs were offered to current WCS employees through an internal application process. The cohorts began in January 2022 and graduated on May 6, 2023.
The first of the three cohorts included 25 WCS teachers pursuing a Masters of Arts in Education with a literacy concentration through Bluffton University. “WCS is proud to partner with Bluffton University to provide our teachers with the opportunity to obtain a Master’s Degree with a literacy concentration. Bluffton has a commitment to quality academic instruction and methodology that corresponds with the Science of Reading. We believe strongly that continuing education of our teachers and staff is critical to having the best teaching professionals working with students. These teachers have continually portrayed excellence in academics and demonstrated a strong commitment to the program. We are proud of them as WCS teachers and now graduates of Bluffton University with a Master’s Degree,” said Dr. Hoffert, the superintendent.
Finally, the board recognized 17 teachers who graduated from Indiana State University with their Masters of Arts in Educational Leadership, which provided a focus on building-level administration, and 11 teachers and administrators with their Educational Specialist Degree, centered around district-level administration.
“WCS is proud to partner with Indiana State University (ISU) to provide our employees with the opportunity to obtain a Master’s or Educational Specialist degree. ISU has been known for decades as a teachers college and leader in educational development. We strongly believe in the continuing education of our teachers and staff. These scholarships are a direct investment in our teachers, students and community. These graduates have continually portrayed excellence in academics and demonstrated a strong commitment to the program. We are proud of them as WCS teachers or administrators and now graduates of Indiana State University,” added Superintendent Dr. Hoffert.
WCS is excited to continue investing in educators' growth and educational development.
Applications for the next round of scholarships are open through June 1. Current teachers interested in pursuing a Master's of Arts in Education with a literacy concentration through Bluffton University or a Master's of Arts in Educational Leadership through ISU are invited to apply.
2022-23 Tiger Ambassadors:
Laurel Davis
Matthew Goebel
Devendra Gorhe
Stephen Jones
Melissa Kissling
Danielle Lock
Tyler Miller
Anwar Mohammed
Samuel Pena
Roberto Perez-De-Frias
Emerson Poort
Jeri Purdy
James Randall
Cassi Silveus
Ashlie Williams
Bluffton University Masters of Arts in Education with a Literacy Concentration Graduates:
Clara Borda
Alexis Brenner
Catherine Cavanaugh
Courtney Guilford
Courtney Hale
Hannah Heier
Heidi Henry
Sarah Herring
Leah Hoffer
Valerie Hutton
Alison Jankowski
Kyla Kohler
Erin Leinbach
Shawn Longenberger
Tracy Love
Ashleigh Madden
Ashley Myers
Sarah Niemi
Sarah Reed
Nicki Reeder
Emma Reer
Brenda Sanchez
Rachel Sudhoff
Kami Toumey
Summer Voss
Indiana State University Masters of Arts in Educational Leadership Graduates:
Tammy Adamiec
Cortney Boley
Emily Campbell
Tiffany Cooksey
James Davis
Jennifer Gunder
Mary Haeck
Andrew Halferty
Grant Hendrikse
Marc Huffer
Brandon Murphy
Kirsten Owens
Brock Rhodes
Abbi Richcreek
Dylan Ringler
Cheri Sleighter
Donna Stump
Indiana State University Educational Specialist Graduates:
David Bailey
Kyle Carter
Steven Caudill
Matthew Deeds
Daniel Graney
Aimee Lunsford
Jenna Moree
Krista Polston
Nathan Polston
Hunter Reed
Paul Zakaria