By Lindsay Doty
It’s not just students who are excelling at Danville Community School Corporation. DCSC North Elementary School teacher Katie Pourcho has been named a top 10 finalist for the 2020 Indiana Department of Education’s Teacher of the Year award.
Smiling and bursting with creativity, Pourcho teaches art to kindergarten through second grade students.
“In Miss Pourcho’s classroom, student artists are encouraged, challenged and celebrated. Her instruction is dynamic and engaging, bringing art to life for her students and building a supportive environment for their creative work,” North Elementary School Principal Karen Perkins said. “Miss Pourcho is the kind of teacher that makes a difference for kids and adults each and every day.”
Pourcho was selected out of dozens of applicants and will now move on to the interview portion. The top teacher will be selected this fall. The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) uses the Teacher of the Year program to recognize outstanding classroom teachers from across the state.
The screening and selection committee is made up of former recipients, IDOE staff, educational organization leaders, business and community leaders and representatives from higher education.
DCSC staff and parents are cheering on the news on social media.
“Your artwork in the hallways always gave us something to marvel over as we walked through the hallways! Your recognition is well deserved.” writes Kathy Bennett.
Pourcho is a recipient of the 2016 Lilly Endowment, LLC Teacher Creativity Fellowship, and a graduate of Ball State University Honors College.
