ADMINISTRATION
CURRICULUM
For a teacher, the respect of your students, their parents, and your colleagues is hard to top. For that reason, Plainfield's Teacher of the Year process includes nominations from staff, with the final selection committee made up of school and community stakeholders.
Due to COVID-19, Indiana's 2021 Teacher of the Year program was set aside, instead honoring all teachers throughout the state for their heroic efforts to pivot to online learning, practically overnight.
2023 Karisa Schwanekamp, Guilford
2023 Nathan Ellis, PCMS
2022 Liza Payton, PHS
2021 All Teachers
2020 Adam Ferguson, PHS
2019 Ann Mennonno, Clark Creek
2018 Brad DeHoff, PCMS
2017 Michelle Burress, PHS
2016 Jonelle Heaton, PHS
2015 Krissy Sullivan, Brentwood
2014 Susan Ament, PHS
2012 Natalie Boyer, Brentwood
2011 Andrea Birke, PHS
2010 Elizabeth Fisher, PCMS
2009 Judy Reed, Brentwood
2008 Chris Cavanaugh, PHS
2007 Joan Effinger, PCMS
2006 Susan Gabonay, Brentwood
2005 Teri Carpenter, PHS
2004 Larry Castor, PCMS
2003 Mary Winters, Van Buren
2002 Laurie Gatlin, PHS
2001 Jon Arvin, PCMS
2000 Teresa Walters, Van Buren
1999 Ray Saxman, PHS
1998 Martha Jennings, PCMS
1997 Nell Voelker, Van Buren
1996 Carol Kellogg, PHS
1995 Don Dones, PCMS
1994 John Chapin, Van Buren
1993 Jerry Hankins, PHS
1992 Kathy Owen, PCMS
1991 Pat Lilly, Brentwood
1990 Bruce Milburn, PHS
Standards and expectations for teachers are high in Plainfield. We work diligently to hire the best teachers possible, making sure that the students in this district are getting the best -- every year. Rigorous standards make sure that there isn't a doubt that the Plainfield Teacher of the Year is truly an outstanding educator.
We have two Teacher of the Year recipients--one at the Elementary level and one at the Secondary level.
Abigail Carter is Plainfield's 2024 Elementary Teacher of the Year. She is a first grade teacher at Guilford Elementary. Mrs. Carter works hard every day to make sure her students are learning all that they can, which she approaches with our Bringing Joy to Learning mission in mind. Whether it’s themed days, first grade community-wide experiences, shopping in the "store" or procuring Valentine cards from all over the world, she makes sure that her students leave school with the best experience they can. Her passion, dedication, and energy are contagious and her students, fellow teachers, and administrators see it personified daily. She also has served as the Guilford Elementary PTO president for the last two years, working hard to make sure that students and teachers have exceptional experiences all school year long.
Elaine Townsend is Plainfield's 2024 Secondary Teacher of the Year. She teaches Project Lead the Way: Biomedical Sciences classes at Plainfield High School. Mrs. Townsend challenges her students to look critically to find problems and solutions. In her PLTW Biomedical Sciences classes, her students are encouraged to take part in hands-on experiential learning, which helps knowledge retention. From dissections, clay organ system recreations, Stop the Bleed training and more, Mrs. Townsend makes sure to create impressions on her students that last for their entire time at PHS. Her classes are challenging, but year after year, students clamor to take the next level course because of the excitement that she brings to learning. She is also the co-chair sponsor of the HOSA club, which takes high school students to the elementary schools to participate in STEM-focused activities.
These educators deserve this high honor and we know that they represent us with pride at the state level.
Mrs. Carter and Mrs. Townsend, we are proud of you!