Vigo teachers included in Creative Teaching program

FARMERSBURG, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — Two Vigo County educators have been chosen to participate in the Indiana Educator Fellowship for Creative Teaching.

The program is about encouraging teachers to use creativity in their approach to in-class instruction. The local teachers who were invited were Mary Dinkel of Fayette Elementary School and Christine Gauer of the Saint Patrick School of the Terre Haute Deanery.

The two will join 18 other educators from across the state in this year’s cohort.

“The fellows will attend a series of virtual learning sessions and will receive three days of immersive, hands-on training in connecting creativity to state standards, access to a fully funded in-school creative arts residency, and a $1,000 honorarium,” an IAC news release reads.

“We are proud to be working with some of the most energetic, innovative educators across the Hoosier State through this fellowship,” said Stephanie Haines, Arts Education and Accessibility Program Manager at the IAC. “It is inspiring to meet with so many passionate Hoosiers who are ready to integrate arts and creativity into the classroom to the benefit of their students.”

The full list of educators invited to the 2024 program are as follows;

• Amber Sims, Central Middle School (Bartholomew County)
• Amelia Shaw, Columbus North High School and Columbus East High School (Bartholomew County)
• Brooke Hamlett, Hornet Park Elementary (Marion County)
• Christine Gauer, Saint Patrick School of the Terre Haute Deanery (Vigo County)
• Denise Wampler, Southside Elementary School (Bartholomew County)
• Duane Curry, Christel House Academy West (Marion County)
• Emily Thien, Eastwood Middle School (Marion County)
• Gregg Nowling, Purdue Polytechnic High School Englewood (Marion County)
• Joscilyn Acosta, Premier Arts Academy (Elkhart County)
• Kathie Kenworthy, York Elementary School (Elkhart County)
• Laurisa LeSure, Wilson Elementary (St. Joseph County)
• MacKenzie Cox, Centerville Junior High School (Wayne County)
• Maria Edwards, St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School (Lawrence County)
• Mary Dinkel, Fayette Elementary School (Vigo County)
• Mickie Magnuson, Greater Clark County School Corporation (Clark County)
• Molly Oros, Valparaiso High School (Porter County)
• Nicole Schadek, Purdue Polytechnic High School Schweitzer Center at Englewood (Marion County)
• Raeanne Yatska, New Castle High School (Henry County)
• Sarah Elrhanjaoui, William Tell Elementary (Perry County)
• Shawn Charlton, Bartholomew County Youth Services Center (Bartholomew County)

The Indiana Arts Commission encourages other educators interested in learning more about arts integration to sign up to attend the three-day in-person Summer Institute for Creative Teaching July 10-12 at Lebanon High School. More information on that program can be found here .

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyWabashValley.com.