FOX CITIES AREA (NBC 26) -- Like so many teachers across the nation this year they've faced formidable challenges. Facemasks, virtual platforms, social distancing in the classroom, all while helping to teach not just students but also parents how to roll with the punches.
This year, three outstanding teachers in the Fox Cities region have been nominated for Educator of the Year for the Excellence in Education Shining Start Awards a program of the Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce. Tim VanEperen of the Little Chute Area School District, Bethany Andersen of Coolidge Elementary School, and Karla Miller-Flynn of Kaukauna High School.
On Thursday, April 29th the Excellence in Education Shining Star Awards held their virtual award ceremony to announce the winner. This year, Karla Miller-Flynn of Kaukauna High School was selected as the 2021 Educator of the Year. Miller-Flynn is the Health Educator at Kaukauna High School. She and the other two finalists were featured this week on NBC 26. You can learn more about them below:
KARLA MILLER-FLYNN
HEALTH EDUCATOR, KAUKAUNA HIGH SCHOOL
Karla Miller-Flynn has spent 32 years as the Health Educator at Kaukauna High School, committing herself to help kids with both their physical health and mental wellness.
"I was raised if you want something in life, get after it, and if you want to be successful in life the harder you work the more likely that is to happen," says Miller-Flynn.
A motto in motion from her success as a teacher in the classroom to her tireless dedication to school and community service.
"She supports her students unlike any other teacher here. She really cares about her students beyond the classroom,” says Emma Eggleston, senior at Kaukauna High School.
Miller-Flynn is also the National Honor Society Advisor. According to her colleagues, her list of commitments for the school and the community are long. Including (but not limited to); a tutoring program, organizing multiple annual blood drives, organizes computer classes for the elderly, Loaves and Fishes food drives and collections, a fundraiser for the fine arts program, organizes events for the Grignon mansion day and, volunteers for the scholarship committee.
"I like working. I really like it because I really like to see things accomplished. It's such a great feeling," Miller-Flynn says.
Miller-Flynn’s motto of hard work began long before she became a teacher.
Karla was an extraordinarily successful college athlete at UW-Stevens point.
According to theUWSP Hall of Fame website, Miller-Flynn was named two-time first-team All-Conference in basketball and honorable mention All American in 1985, three-time Most Valuable Player for the women’s basketball team, and captain of the 1986-87 NCAA Division III championship team, Named to the all-tournament team at 1987 Division III Final Four, earned school’s Athlete of the Year award in 1986 and collected six letters in basketball and volleyball.
“I have been a very, very lucky person. I love being here and I love working with kids,” Miller-Flynn says as she modestly dodges my questions about her successful athletic career.
“She has an awesome charisma and she's so lovely and awesome and I can’t think of a reason why she wouldn't be nominated,” says Kaukauna High School junior, Alyssa VanDomelen about Miller-Flynn’s nomination for Educator of the Year.
"I've been lucky to be in that top three. It could have easily been Mrs. Nettekoven. I could have picked 100 people from this building and it could have been them."
Out of the more than 5,000 teachers in the Fox Cities area, the finalists have been narrowed down to three, Karla Miller-Flynn from Kaukauna High School, Bethany Andersen from Coolidge Elementary School, and Tim VanEperen from Little Chute Area School District.
The winner of Educator of the Year will be announced Thursday night, April 29th at 6 pm at the Excellence in Education Shining Star awards virtual ceremony. The awards are a program of the Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce.
Stay tuned to hear from the winner on NBC 26 News at 10 pm Thursday night.
BETHANY ANDERSEN
MATH SUPPORT TEACHER, COOLIDGE ELEMENTARY AND ALLIANCE CHARGER SCHOOL
Of the thousands of educators in the Fox Cities, the category for Educator of the Year has been whittled down to three. Bethany Andersen is one of them. Andersen is the math support teacher at Coolidge Elementary and Alliance Charter School in Neenah.
"It’s hard for me to wrap my head around it because we have so many great teachers not only here but throughout the Fox Valley. How I became one to stand out I have no idea because there are so many more deserving ones," says Andersen when asked about how she feels about the nomination for Educator of the Year.
On Tuesday morning I spent about an hour inside Ms. Andersen's small math intervention classroom at Coolidge Elementary school and it didn't take long for her students to start bragging about her.
"I actually feel so very proud of Ms. Anderson because she is going to be in the number three of the best teachers," says 4th grader, Maxwell Sohn.
When I asked Maxwell why he feels proud of his teacher he responded, "I feel like she earned that because she's kind and she's special."
"She makes math easier to understand," says 1st grader Danika Williams when asked about what she likes about Ms. Andersen's class.
During her 15 years in Education, Andersen has had several roles as an educator. At Coolidge Elementary she has carved out her niche as a math support teacher.
"My primary job is to work with students who math doesn't come as naturally to them. So they need a little extra boost," she says.
Through games, laughs, and support Bethany Andersen lifts her students up to not only help them learn but help them love learning.
"I was still learning and it kind of was a little bit confusing but when I had Ms. Andersen, it changed me and now math is really fun, says Maxwell Sohn, 4th grader at Coolidge.
Andersen says the social-emotional learning goes hand in hand with her teaching philosophy.
"The social-emotional development of kids is one of the things that are really close to my heart so I try to bring that into all I do with them in the math classroom."
I asked Bethany what was her secret to keeping cool during this chaotic pandemic school year her answer; "Flexibility has been the number one thing this year, right? We couldn't have done anything this year without being flexible."
The Excellence in Education Awards are a program of the Fox Cities Chamber of Commerce.The winner of the Educator of the Year will be announced Thursday, April 29th.
On Thursday we will introduce you to the third and final nominee, Karla Miller-Flynn from Kaukauna High School.
Stay tuned for an announcement from this year's winner.
TIM VANEPEREN
CHORAL DIRECTOR, LITTLE CHUTE AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT
In the performing arts, leaders take center stage but when it comes to his nomination for Educator of the Year, this Choral Director takes a more humble approach.
"I hope it shows a reflection beyond just me and more so what the great things we are doing here at Little Chute," says VanEperen.
During Tim VanEperen's eight years with the Little Chute area school district, the choral program has more than tripled in size. What was once a small choir is now a robust music program of hundreds of students that is bursting at the seams.
"We really saw this year that it was necessary for some of these kids to have an outlet to not only just to sing, but to talk about some of these challenges that they're going through," VanEperans says when talking about the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic.
VanEperen's passion for music, teaching, and drive for excellence has created a buzz among his students.
"He had a really great personal relationship with his singers and he took a more emotional approach to the singing that allowed us to connect better to the music," says Mason Genke, junior at Little Chute High School.
Students and colleagues say VanEperen has also created a culture that makes everyone feel like they belong.
"He always will be there for anybody whoever needs him. He's just a really great friend and a teacher," adds junior, Mason Genke.
To those around him, VanEperen is an educator who is as passionate about music as he is about helping kids find their place in the world.
"I'm excited to hopefully see some progression forward in the future to revitalize things and bring back all of the things that we've loved to do," VanEperen says.
The winner of the Educator of the Year award will be announced Thursday, April 29th, as part of the virtual Excellence in Education Shining Star Awards Ceremony. We will follow up with the winner and have their reaction on NBC 26 News at 6 pm on April 30Th.
