Teacher of the Month

The Harper Creek Optimist Club Board of Directors voted February 2019 to initiate a new program that monthly during the school year recognizes teachers in the Harper Creek Community Schools. A “Teacher of the Month” is selected by the school’s Principal from each of the five schools: HC High School, HC Middle School, Beadle Lake Elementary, Sonoma Elementary and Wattles Park Elementary. The honored teacher will receive specials perks for a month such as a classroom door award, special recognition on daily announcements plus a special parking spot with a designated sign. Our club will issue the teachers a desk plaque designating their award.  In addition, if the teacher (and family) would like to attend a Harper Creek Optimist Club meeting during their award month, they will receive a free dinner plus a $50 check to be utilized for their classroom. Due to COVID complications, the program was altered the later part of the 2020-21 school year; $500 per month was issued by our club for a weekly gift card raffle providing all teachers a chance to win. Starting the 2021 fall school calendar year, the HC Optimist Club Board decided to go back to the normal format.  

June Joostberns - Wattles Park Elementary   

Bridget Callender - Sonoma Elementary   

Kim Haire - Beadle Lake Elementary    

Brian McManus- HC Middle School   

Craig Smart - HC High School

        
Pictured (L-R) is Club President Mike Olson, Craig Smart, Bridget Callender and Brian McManus.

Jim Eckert - Wattles Park Elementary   

Katie Thill - Sonoma Elementary   

Lesa Kenney - Beadle Lake Elementary    

Nicole Bartlett - HC Middle School   

Darlene Smith - HC High School

        
Pictured (L-R) is Club President Mike Olson, Darlene Smith, Nicole Bartlett and Lesa Kenney 

Paul Cotts - Wattles Park Elementary   

Cheryl Bess - Sonoma Elementary   

Nina Matthews - Beadle Lake Elementary    

Brian Crackel - HC Middle School   

Amber Rutan - HC High School

        
Pictured (L-R) is Brian Crackel, Cheryl Bess, Amber Rutan, Paul Cotts and Club President Mike Olson 

Veronica Lopshire - Wattles Park Elementary   

Kris Gilbert - Sonoma Elementary   

Julie Simonds - Beadle Lake Elementary    

Kaylah Eddy - HC Middle School   

Jason Burgess - HC High School

        
Pictured (L-R) is Kris Gilbert, Kaylah Eddy, Veronica Lopshire, Jason Burgess and Club President Mike Olson 

Mindy Forrest - Wattles Park Elementary   

Lisa Savage - Sonoma Elementary   

Shannon Graves - Beadle Lake Elementary    

Kalyn Critchlow - HC Middle School   

Tiffini Hurley - HC High School

        
Pictured (L-R) is Mindy Forrest, Shannon Graves, Lisa Savage and Club President Mike Olson 

Heather Crail - Wattles Park Elementary   

Heather Croskey - Sonoma Elementary   

Rachel Franks - Beadle Lake Elementary    

Andrea Fronsman - HC Middle School   

Amanda Zima - HC High School

        
Pictured (L-R) is Rachel Franks, Andrea Fronsman, Amy Rios (November TOM), Amanda Zima and Club President Mike Olson 

Elizabeth Murphy - Wattles Park Elementary   

Amy Rios - Sonoma Elementary   

Carrie Carpenter - Beadle Lake Elementary    

Chad Dishaw - HC Middle School   

Laura Homminga - HC High School

        
Pictured (L-R) is Elizabeth Murphy, Laura Homminga and Club President Mike Olson 

Amy Leasure - Wattles Park Elementary   

Emily Kane - Sonoma Elementary   

Holly Ryan - Beadle Lake Elementary    

Adam Ries - HC Middle School   

Becky Gardner - HC High School

        
Pictured (L-R) is Becky Gardner, Adam Ries and Club President Mike Olson 

Gale Fisher - Wattles Park Elementary   

James Remus - Sonoma Elementary   

Sharon Waltman - Beadle Lake Elementary    

Greg Pastor - HC Middle School   

Stacy Deskins - HC High School

        
Pictured (L-R) is Stacy Deskins (the only recipient who attended the honorary meeting), Club President Mike Olson and Rebecca Schneider. Rebecca is the Communication Director at Harper Creek Schools and has been instrumental with co-coordinating our Student of the Month program. 

Laura Selinger - Wattles Park Elementary   

Jennifer Petropoulos - Sonoma Elementary   

Michelle Migliaccio - Beadle Lake Elementary    

Desiree Sprick - HC Middle School   

Meredith Hawkins - HC High School        

Pictured (L-R) are the three recipients who attended the monthly honorary meeting to receive their $50 check and their official plaque designating their achievement: Desiree Sprick, Jennifer Petropoulos, Laura Selinger with Club President Mike Olson.

Lindsey Heil - Wattles Park Elementary  

Emily Rhodes - Sonoma Elementary   

Lessa Kenney - Beadle Lake Elementary   

David Carl - HC Middle School  

Nancy Eckert - HC High School      

Pictured (L-R) are the two recipients who attended the monthly honorary meeting to receive their $50 check and their official plaque designating their achievement: Lindsey Heil, Lessa Kenney with Club President Mike Olson.

Sherri Singer - Wattles Park Elementary 

Christine Guthrie - Sonoma Elementary  

Morgan Smith - Beadle Lake Elementary  

Tamara Smith - HC Middle School 

Jason Burgess - HC High School    

Pictured (L-R) are Sherri Singer, Christine Guthrie, Tamara Smith and Harper Creek Optimist Club President Mike Olson.

Kristin Hammond - Wattles Park Elementary

Marlis Campbell - Wattles Park Elementary 

Jessica Ridgway - Sonoma Elementary 

Andy O'Boyle - Beadle Lake Elementary 

Sunny Boyer - Beadle Lake Elementary 

Erica Jenkins - HC Middle School

Jared Cavis - HC Middle School 

Suzanne Allen - HC High School   

Karlene Neal - HC High School

Pictured (L-R) are Marlis Campbell, Kristin Hammond, Morgan Smith (February TOM), Mindy Forrest (November TOM), Sunny Boyer, Suzanne Allen, Jessica Ridgway, Erica Jenkins and Jared Cavis. 

Jim Eckert - Wattles Park Elementary

Mindy Forrest - Sonoma Elementary

Lindsay Gogan - Sonoma Elementary

Jody Ledbetter - Beadle Lake Elementary

Penny Osborne - HC Middle School

Jack Gadwood - HC High School

Pictured (L-R) are Club President Mike Olson, Jack Gadwood, Jim Eckert and Lindsay Gogan. Jody Ledbetter, Mindy Forrest and Penny Osborne were not present. 

Rhonda Smart - Wattles Park Elementary

Ashlee Berner - Sonoma Elementary

Kim Haire - Beadle Lake Elementary

Chelsea Warner - HC Middle School

Larry Quick - HC High School

Pictured (L-R) are Club President Mike Olson, Rhonda Smart, Ashlee Berner, Chelsea Warner and Larry Quick. Kim Haire was not present.

Heather Shipley- Wattles Park Elementary

Betty Picard - Sonoma Elementary

Morgan Ebright - Beadle Lake Elementary

Steven (Joe) Yurisich - HC Middle School

Brian Herr - HC High School

Pictured in a collage (upper left - clockwise) are Brian Herr, Betty Picard, Heather Shipley, 

Morgan Ebright and Joe Yurisich.

Maria Kloosterman - Wattles Park Elementary

Lisa Savage - Sonoma Elementary

Erin Kowalesky - Sonoma Elementary

Michelle Tooman - HC Middle School

Mark Lowrie - HC High School

Pictured (L-R) are Erin Kowalesky, Lisa Savage, Michelle Tooman 

and Club President Mike Olson. Maria Kloosterman and Mark Lowrie

were not present.

Jodi Van Syckle - Wattles Park Elementary

No Nomination - Sonoma Elementary

Samantha Klein - Beadle Lake Elementary

Brian Crackel - HC Middle School

Michael Rio - HC High School

Due to COVID-19 these honored teachers have not been able to attend a meeting to receive

their monetary award and plaque. 

Dawn Thompson - Wattles Park Elementary

Emily Rhodes - Sonoma Elementary

Hope Kahler - Beadle Lake Elementary

Jennifer Gest - HC Middle School

Darlene Smith - HC High School

Due to COVID-19 these honored teachers have not been able to attend a meeting to receive 

their monetary award and plaque.