By Andy Klotz, APR—
MUNCIE, IN— Kira Zick and Kim Kowalski have been selected as Muncie Community Schools’ (MCS) primary and secondary Teachers of the Year, respectively, for the 2021-22 school year. The two were honored today during an employee gathering at Central High School.
Zick teaches grades 3 and 4 in the Dual Language Immersion program at West View Elementary, one of six elementary schools in MCS. She received the honor based on her students’ achievement, classroom management, dedication to professional development and other factors.
“It’s an awesome honor,” Zick said. “Every teacher is working so hard, so to be recognized and chosen for this is really an honor. I was very surprised.”
Kowalski is a Master Teacher at Southside Middle School where she not only assists other teachers with their lessons and classroom management, but also leads staff meetings, professional development content and the ILearn testing process. Her peers recognize her high level of professionalism in everything she does.
“I never in a million years would have assigned that sort of honor to myself,” Kowalski said. “I’m really pretty speechless and humbled. It’s amazing! It’s so much fun to go to work with all of our teachers and administrators and everybody. There’s a real sense of family.”
Kim Kowalski, MCS secondary Teacher of the Year. Photo provided
Both Zick and Kowalski will receive plaques and $1,000 salary increases for their district awards, which is in addition to the $1,000 increases they received for being their schools’ respective teachers of the year. The other school honorees included:
- Leslie Foster – Longfellow Elementary
- Heidi Keever – Grissom Elementary
- Sarah Stone – North View Elementary
- Denise Gawrys – South View Elementary
- Evan Shroyer – East Washington Academy
- Debbie Mizelle – Northside Middle School
- Jen Jensen – Central High School
- Jeremy Penrod – Muncie Area Career Center
“We are extremely fortunate to have so many talented, dedicated educators in our district, and Kira and Kim are two of the very best,” MCS Director of Public Education and CEO Lee Ann Kwiatkowski said. “They both set a high bar, expecting a lot from themselves, their colleagues and students, which is the only way to help students fulfill their potential.”
MCS will welcome back students for their first day of class on August 9th.
About Muncie Community Schools
Serving the local community since 1855, Muncie Community Schools (MCS) educates more than 5,000 students at six elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school while also managing several other educational facilities. Through its unique partnership with Ball State University, MCS strives to maximize each student’s potential so he or she can be a positive, productive member of society. Find out more about MCS or Director of Public Education and CEO Lee Ann Kwiatkowski at muncieschools.org.
