The McNicholas Milestone

By Ayla Dickerson

Every year, one educator from each school in the Forest Hills School District is selected as “Educator of the Year” by the Anderson Area Chamber of Commerce. Administrative assistant to the principal Mrs. Jennifer Tumser said that “although McNicholas is outside of the city limits to be considered a part of Forest Hills School District, McNick is still kindly included in this by them.” After the educators have been determined, there is a ceremony where awards are presented for Educators of the Year, Citizen of the Year, and Business of the Year, among others. McNicholas High School recently named their “Educator of the Year” as Business and Technology teacher and department chair Mrs. Jolene Esz.

To create the list of nominees, Tumser said the administration looks at “educators who have been [at McNicholas] full time for over ten years and have not yet received the award.” The nominee list is then sent out, via a link through email, to faculty to vote for a teacher to receive the award of “Educator of the Year” for McNicholas High School. Tumser included that there is a section in the voting form where faculty and staff can include their thoughts on why the teacher they voted for deserves the recognition.

She added that Esz has been an educator for 23 years, and at McNick for 12 years. “She played an integral part in bringing the University of Cincinnati IT program to McNick,” Tumser said. The UC IT program helps students as young as sophomores learn college-level information. “Programs like this and the Cyber Patriots gave students who have an interest in technology and IT a place to show their skills,” Tumser added.

Esz received her B.A. from Thomas More University and her graduate certificate from the University of Cincinnati, both in Information Technology.

Q: What is your involvement in the McNick community?

A: I am a teacher at McNicholas High School and the Department Chair for the Technology & Business Dept. I help to arrange the Homecoming Court voting in the fall, facilitate the school’s INTERalliance chapter, and coach the two CyberPatriot teams.

Q: What did you do/ why do you think you were given this honor?

A: I have no idea. It was a huge surprise and a great honor.

Q: Did you know you were a nominee for teacher of the year?

A: I knew I was on the list for the teachers that were eligible, but that was it.

Q: How and when were you told that you were named “Teacher of the Year?”

A: I found out at the end of the Department Chair meeting last week. It was a big surprise.

Q: What were your initial feelings and reactions to receiving this honor?

A: It took a while to sink in what had happened!

The awards ceremony will take place on March 31 at The Anderson Center. To learn more about the other awards from the Anderson Area Chamber of Commerce, please visit andersonareachamber.org.