Elementary Teacher of the Year - Theresa Zarndt
Theresa Zarndt is a third grade teacher at MacArthur Elementary with 30 years of service in education, 24 of which have been as a teacher. She has an Elementary Education degree from Calumet College of St. Joseph and an Early Childhood degree from Purdue Calumet.
Mrs. Zarndt has been a Spell Bowl coach, Girls on the Run coach, a MacArthur team leader and mentor teacher, and part of the MacArthur Inclusion team.
Principal Marian Buchko noted that Mrs. Zarndt “Consistently goes above and beyond as a teacher, demonstrating a remarkable dedication to meeting the individual needs of students. She is an exemplary communicator, and her contributions extend far beyond the classroom walls.”
Finalists for Elementary Teacher of the Year were:
- Grace Kellett - Eisenhower Elementary
- Jessica Markle - Lake Street Elementary
- Tera Baechle - Solon Robinson Elementary
- Carolyn Winland - Timothy Ball Elementary
- Staci Santefort - Winfield Elementary
- Abbey Rauch - Jerry Ross Elementary
Secondary Teacher of the Year - Ryan Jurczak
Ryan Jurczak is an Exceptional Education teacher at Taft Middle School. He has worked in education for 8 years and graduated from Purdue University with a Masters degree in Specal Education.
Mr. Jurczak led initiatives to create Unified Basketball, Best Buddies, Unified Track, Bulldog Bowling, student-led coffee carts, and peer mentor programs at both Taft and Col. Wheeler middle schools. He is a member of the district’s inclusion team and a PLC teacher leader.
Taft Middle School principal Tracy Seibert said Mr. Jurczak has a true commitment to the field of exceptional education. “Ryan's dedication to addressing the individual needs of his students sets him apart as an outstanding educator. Whether it's creating personalized learning plans, implementing differentiated instruction, or providing one-on-one support, Ryan goes above and beyond to ensure that every student achieves success, while also having fun. His leadership embodies trust, fosters a sense of belonging, and cultivates a positive school culture where every student feels loved, valued and supported.”
Finalists for Secondary Teacher of the Year were:
- Mary Lux - CPHS
- Amy Mehrle - Col. Wheeler
Employee of the Year - Jennifer Eaton
Jennifer Eaton is an Applied Skills paraprofessional at Crown Point High School. Mrs. Eaton helped successfully navigate caring for our exceptional education students at CPHS this year through some significant changes.
James Twardy, a CPHS teacher, recognized her accomplishments. "Jenny’s commitment and care for her students and co-workers is on full display for all who enter the classroom, as she routinely puts others' needs first. Jenny is always willing to go above and beyond to meet the needs of her students. Her patience and positive disposition help her establish positive relationships with her students, creating a safe and comforting learning environment. Jenny shows initiative and is quick to step up to meet any challenge, taking on new roles and providing veteran leadership. Her dedication and experience make her a valuable asset to the CPHS Exceptional Education team."
Finalists for Employee of the Year were:
- Bob Berkes - Maintenance, Carpenter
- Scott Kessler - Driver Coach
Administrator of the Year - Martin Freeman
Marty Freeman is CPCSC’s Director of Transportation and has a 30-year career in education. Marty arrived in our district in 2022 and led the transportation department through what could be described as a reboot. Under his guidance and leadership, we’ve recruited and retained more bus drivers, established a sense of community amongst our transportation employees, and become more efficient with our transportation services. Marty leads his team in covering more than one million miles per year.
Spirit of a Bulldog Award - Pam Maloney
Pam Maloney is our Director of Food Services and is retiring after 23 years of service. Her dedication to providing nutritious meals to our students, managing our cafeterias, and navigating changes in food service requirements is unmatched. We estimate that over the course of her tenure, Pam has led her team in serving nearly 14 million meals to students.