Wednesday, August 14, 2024
INDIANAPOLIS - The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) today announced that Chet Dixon of Mooresville Consolidated School District, Ellie Minogue of Tippecanoe School Corporation and Graciela Miranda of the Metropolitan School District of Pike Township are the top three finalists for Indiana Teacher of the Year.
“Teachers make a difference in the lives of our students each and every day,” said Dr. Katie Jenner, Indiana Secretary of Education. “The Indiana Teacher of the Year process gives us another opportunity to elevate the educator profession and celebrate their incredible impact. Among 65,000 educators in the state, what an accomplishment it is to be a top three finalist for Indiana Teacher of the Year!”
More information about Indiana’s top three Teacher of the Year finalists can be found below:
Chet Dixon is an alternative school teacher at Mooresville High School who teaches special education, business management, reading development, math remediation, algebra and geometry. Now in his ninth year of teaching, Chet prioritizes student outcomes and designs innovative educational experiences to meet the unique needs of each student. This has led to more than 95% of his students graduating on time.
Ellie Minogue is a fourth and fifth grade teacher at Klondike Elementary School in West Lafayette. She believes that teaching is a creative process and that each student enters the classroom with a different way of learning. Now in her 13th year of teaching, Ellie has been a part of many student learning opportunities inside and outside of the classroom. From advising the student council to mentoring new teachers, she utilizes her skills in many different capacities.
Graciela Miranda is an English language learning teacher for students at Pike High School in Indianapolis. In her 23rd year of teaching, she incorporates parent and community connections within her classroom to maximize success for students. Graciela also works to uplift her fellow Latinx educators by connecting them to the community and professional learning opportunities.
The 2025 Indiana Teacher of the Year, who will be announced in late September, will work to help elevate the teaching profession in Indiana, as well as represent Hoosier teachers at the national level.
For over 60 years, the Indiana Teacher of the Year Program has worked to inspire, rejuvenate and celebrate the teaching profession by recognizing outstanding teachers from across the state. The program encourages schools to nominate their local Teachers of the Year for this statewide honor. Finalists are selected from these applicants by a committee made up of former Teachers of the Year, IDOE staff, educational organization leaders, business and community leaders and representatives from higher education.
Photos of each teacher are available to download here. More information about the Indiana Teacher of the Year program is available here.
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MEDIA CONTACT:
Molly Williams
Indiana Department of Education
mowilliams1@doe.in.gov
(317) 234-3880