Hanover Chamber Recognizes 2019 Educators of the Year

The Hanover Area Chamber of Commerce announced area Educators of the Year at the Annual Business Awards Ceremony on Thursday, November 7, 2019 at Bay City Restaurant. The event was presented by APPI Energy, Doceo, and KLK Welding, Inc. and the Educator of the Year awards were sponsored by 1st Ed Federal Credit Union. Photos were taken by Remembrances by Kevin Photography and are available for viewing here.

Rachel Berkebile was named as Educator of the Year for South Western School District. Berkebile is a school counselor for South Western High School. She joined the SWHS family in 2008, serving as an integral part of the district ever since. Her interest in a career as an educator started early. As a child, "a teacher" was her consistent answer when she was asked what she wanted to be when she grew up. Ultimately, she graduated from Westminster College with a degree in psychology before studying Secondary School Education at The Pennsylvania State University. Berkebile's belief that being student-centered "is the heart and soul of what we do," is something that resonates with the students who nominated her for the award. One student said, "Mrs. Berkebile has always been there for me, no matter what the issue or what time. She has never made me feel like I am too much or in the way...I never feel alone in this school because she has taught me to always come down if l need any sort of help." Berkebile has done her part in keeping the ideal of "Tradition of Excellence" alive and well at South Western High School.

The Educator of the Year from Hanover Public School District was Lisa Smith. Smith assumes her teaching duties with enthusiasm and care while maintaining a high level of professionalism. She takes the responsibility of teaching biology seriously and has improved scores on the keystone exams. Smith also took on the challenge of writing the curriculum for a brand-new biotechnology course, and continually seeks to improve instruction in AP biology. In tandem with being an excellent teacher, Smith is the advisor for the National Honor Society. In this role, she has raised the standards and influence of students who are in NHS. Smith also volunteered to be the junior class advisor and advisor for the school newspaper. Despite her busy schedule, she always makes time to fill a need at the high school. She also makes a point to attend school events to show support for her students. Smith has built a positive and appropriate rapport with her students, which has allowed for her classroom to be a safe environment conducive to authentic learning opportunities and passionate student engagement.

Theresa Smith was named Educator of the Year from St. Joseph Catholic School. Smith is a dynamic fourth grade teacher with 18 years of experience in the Diocese of Harrisburg. She exemplifies professional excellence not only as a Catholic School teacher, but also in her leadership abilities. As a teacher, Smith nurtures the spiritual and academic success of each student. Aside from her role as a teacher, she is a true leader who goes above and beyond what is expected of her. She consistently steps up to the plate whenever help is needed, volunteering for committees, mentoring students, and coordinating for various subjects as needed. During the 2017-2018 School Year, Smith was awarded the highest honor as an educator within the Diocese of Harrisburg when she was named a Golden Apple Recipient.  This award acknowledges that Smith is an excellent educator who has made a significant impact on the lives of her students, the school, the church, and the wider community.

Benjamin Louey represented Educator of the Year for Spring Grove Area School District. Louey has made outstanding contributions to the education of students at Spring Grove Area High School through his work as a Technology Coach, SGFlex Cyber Academy Coordinator, and Advanced Video Journalism/Broadcast Program advisor. In his role as technology coach, Louey has assisted the staff and administration at Spring Grove Area High School regarding instructional technology and technology use to make tasks easier. As the coordinator for SGFlex Cyber Academy, Louey has put in excessive time toward the establishment of the program including curriculum work, the training of teachers, the organization of a pilot program, and more. As an educator, Louey has made a significant impact on the positive learning environment of his school and school community. He is proactive regarding student achievement and applies "out of the box" solutions to help students. Louey encourages students and staff to implement "Learning Without Limits" opportunities, making him an asset to the school community.

Finally, Tamela Hall was named Educator of the Year for Conewago Valley School District. Hall is currently one of our ninth-grade science teachers at New Oxford High School. She is highly motivated, student-centered, creative, and innovative in creating and delivering learning experiences for her students. Hall shares her failures and successes with colleagues during professional learning sessions and PLC meetings to showcase the process she uses to plan, implement, and reflect for growth. Her caring, and positive approach with students creates an environment where students can learn and grow, a quality many colleagues work to emulate. The level of respect for Hall’s abilities as an educator were reinforced this year when she was selected by students and colleagues as a finalist for our newly created Pioneer in Educational Excellence Award. Over the years, Hall has served as advisor and coach for Science Olympiad and Varsity Club, and recently contributed as member of the building R2R team.

The mission of the Hanover Area Chamber of Commerce is to deliver value to members and advance the interests of the business community.  For more information, visit www.hanoverchamber.com.