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.  

Dianna Bartholomew - Wattles Park Elementary   

Jessica Ridgway - Sonoma Elementary   

Julie Robinson - Beadle Lake Elementary    

Rachel Anderson - HC Middle School   

Kevin Hurst - HC High School

        
Pictured (L-R) are those who attended  the meeting to accept the honor: Kevin Hurst, Toni Gore (HCOC President) and Rachel Anderson.

Alisha Hantz - Wattles Park Elementary   

Shayne Elwell- Sonoma Elementary   

Nikki Schwartz - Beadle Lake Elementary    

Betsy Lindsey - HC Middle School   

Megan Alday - HC High School

        
Pictured (L-R) are Shayne Elwell, Alisha Hantz, Megan Alday and Toni Gore, HCOC President.

Amy Leasure - Wattles Park Elementary   

Lindsey Cook - Sonoma Elementary   

Rachael Franks - Beadle Lake Elementary    

Donnie Wirtz - HC Middle School   

Ken Horton - HC High School

        
Pictured (L-R) is Ken Horton the only honored teacher who attended the meeting to accept their award and Toni Gore, HCOC President.

Joene Joostberns - Wattles Park Elementary   

Jacey Dannell - Sonoma Elementary   

Sharon Waltman - Beadle Lake Elementary    

Thom Shipley - HC Middle School   

Kevin Pickett - HC High School

        
Pictured (L-R) are the two teachers who attended our meeting to accept their award: Kevin Pickett & Joene Joostberns

December 2023

Deb Rowe - Wattles Park Elementary   

Melissa Robinson - Sonoma Elementary   

Carrie Carpenter - Beadle Lake Elementary    

Kayla Whitmyer - HC Middle School   

Mark Lowrie - HC High School

January 2024

Nikki Asher - Wattles Park Elementary   

Chriss McCulloch - Sonoma Elementary   

Ann Delmotte - Beadle Lake Elementary    

Jennifer Borders - HC Middle School   

Stacy Deskins - HC High School

        
Pictured (L-R) is Melissa Robinson, Chriss McCulloch, Ann Delmotte,  HC Optimist Club President Toni Gore,

Deb Rowe, Nikki Asher, Stacy Deskins and Kayla Whitmyer

Christina Semora - Wattles Park Elementary   

Brad Yoder - Sonoma Elementary   

Hope Kahler - Beadle Lake Elementary    

Annalisa Gilbert - HC Middle School   

Deborah Hall - HC High School

        
Pictured (L-R) is Christina Semora, HC Optimist Club President Toni Gore and Hope Kahler

Julie Mead - Wattles Park Elementary   

April Hooker - Sonoma Elementary   

Sunny Boyer - Beadle Lake Elementary    

Tammy Schneider - HC Middle School   

Rachel Foreman - HC High School

        
Pictured (L-R) is April Hooker, Tammy Schneider, Julie Mead, Rachel Foreman

and HC Optimist Club President Toni Gore

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.