2023-2024 Armstrong Teacher Educators

Stephanie Barnes

Middle School and High School
Language Arts
Carmel-Clay Schools

“Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.” These famous words by Ruth Bader Ginsburg have inspired Stephanie’s journey as a servant leader for both her students and colleagues for the past 18 years. As an ELA Department Chair at Creekside Middle School, Stephanie’s primary focus on reading and writing workshops, student conferencing, and student engagement has been the cornerstone of her teaching philosophy. She encourages her students to persevere and look for real-work applications, while reflecting on their own skills and setting goals. She has modeled this behavior by writing two Eli Lilly Teacher Creativity Grants, in 2010 and 2018. She hopes to continue these practices as she moves to Carmel High School in the fall to teach AP Literature.

Jené Hartman

High School
Social Studies U.S History, Geography, Psychology, Sociology
South Bend School Corporation

I have been teaching for 30 years in the South Bend School Corporation. I have spent all of my years at the high school level teaching U.S. History, Geography, Psychology and Sociology. I received my undergrad at Ball State, and my graduate degree at IU. Most recently I went back to Ball State to earn my certification in distance learning education and as a result now teach in our corporation's virtual school on an extended contract. This year I will be moving from a traditional high school (Clay High School) to our corporation alternative school, Rise Up Academy. I have chosen to make this transition to expand my experiences in working with students at risk. My goal is to build an environment and curriculum for them that enables them to establish academic and life goals tailored to their unique situations and understand that success is not always achieved in traditional ways. Serving in three different types of educational settings has helped me to grow and fulfill my true duties as a teacher. I have had the opportunity to work with just about every type of student that exists. What I have come to realize is that they are all looking for the exact same thing, a chance to learn. Whatever that looks like to each individual student, as taxing as it may be to constantly pivot, I hope to be able to provide the instruction and tools to the best of my ability.

Jena Hudson

Grades K-2
Music
Richland Bean Blossom Community School Corporation

Jena Hudson is the music teacher at Edgewood Primary School where she teaches kindergarten through 2nd grade. With her 11 years of teaching experience, Jena has a deep understanding of teaching methodology that allows her to successfully teach musical concepts to her youngest students and to encourage active participation in her classroom activities. Her principal describes her class as "a place where students who are agitated become calm, students who need movement are able to move, and students who struggle in the general education classroom can experience success and personal satisfaction." Whether it is composing music, performing in front of an audience, or developing an appreciation for the joy that music brings to our lives, her instruction widens the range of knowledge and interest in the arts within each and every one of her students.

Tim J. Baker

High School
AP English Language & Literature
White River Valley Schools

Tim Baker is currently completing his 8th year as an AP English Language & Literature instructor, currently teaching at White River Valley High School, Switz City, Indiana, and also had the honor of being an adjunct Ivy Tech English instructor at Ivy Tech, Bloomington: (2008-2016). He understands that respect from students has to be earned in layers, begins with trust, and leads to buy-in. He recognizes when instruction comes from “a place of love and support,” most students will reciprocate that devotion, leading to improved citizenship skills and to higher academic achievement. He has learned that classroom culture is a result of the difference between what a teacher reinforces and what he indulges: Healthy Accountability Boundaries In The System (HABITS).

Tammy Josephsen

First Grade
Pope John XXIII Elementary School/Prince of Peace Schools

Tammy Josephsen is a first grade teacher at Pope John XXIII Elementary in Madison, Indiana. In her 30 years in education, Tammy has strived to never stop learning and to be a teacher that makes changes based on what is best for students. Tammy has taught many grade levels. Moving back to first grade, she fell in love with the Science of Reading. The research led her to best practices and piecing together reading instruction that her school needed. She took the lead in professional learning communities to teach teachers about the Science of Reading and to ensure that best instructional methods were being utilized. Tammy enjoys leading and inspiring others to never stop learning or pushing for success.

Cortnaye Love

High School
Chemistry
Indiana Connections Academy

In the last 12 years, Cortnaye Love has taught a wide variety of science courses including chemistry, biology, physics, ICP, environmental science, and forensics in both in-person and virtual settings. Cortnaye prides herself on bringing passion and enthusiasm to all learning but particularly science. She understands that science can be an intimidating subject and strives to find a real-world connection with each of her students. While in the bricks and mortar setting Cortnaye worked to flip the classroom so that students had more student choice increasing engagement and mastery. She is currently piloting a project-based chemistry course at Indiana Connections Academy. This was dreamt up as an opportunity to not only satisfy a graduation pathway for students but to also provide a new way to engage with the material. Students are able to expand within the chemistry concepts and incorporate standards from history, writing, technology, and art. Cortnaye is also the first virtual educator to be awarded this honor.

Kirstin Milks

High School
AP Bio and Earth/Space Science
Monroe County Community School Corporation

Kirstin learns from and with AP Biology and Earth/space science students at Bloomington High School South. Her family weathered emotional and financial instability while she was growing up, and she experienced first-hand the way school can be a refuge for students as well as a launch pad! In her teaching practice, Kirstin is committed to engaging young people in authentic scientific and personal practices, collaborating with students and community members to create justice-oriented spaces and opportunities, and supporting and making public the work of teaching and learning. She loves that a science classroom can be a laboratory for discovery, creativity, community, and fun.

Katelyn Snack

Grades K-5
Literacy/Title 1 Reading Specialist
South Vermillion School Corporation

Katelyn Snack is the Title 1 Reading and Dyslexia Specialist at Ernie Pyle Elementary School. She is drawn to learning how to best meet students’ individual needs and continuously stays up to date on current research and best practices. Beliefs that collaboration is key in an educational environment drives her to work hard to share knowledge on using data to inform instruction and model best practices with her peers to help create the most effective learning environments for their students. Additionally, she emphasizes the importance of thinking of children as a whole child and taking into account their emotional and social needs, as well. Building positive rapport with students is pertinent in order for successful learning to happen within the classroom. She contributes to her broader school community by having participated in the Indiana Principal Leadership Institute as a lead teacher, is the Intervention Coordinator, member of their building leadership team, participates regularly in family/community school events, and has positive relationships with school families.

Brooke Stewart

High School
Biology
South Harrison School Corporation

Brooke Stewart is a high school biology and environmental science teacher at South Central Jr-Sr High School in Elizabeth, IN. She is also an Ed.D. student at IU Bloomington. Her doctoral research currently focuses on teaching strategies that cross the rigor divide and what strategies should be taught to pre-service teachers to help them cross that divide in their classrooms. In her class, she focuses on student engagement and critical thinking for every student. Brooke currently serves on the board of directors for the Hoosier Association of Science Teachers, Inc and is an editor for the organization’s journal, The Hoosier Science Teacher. In the summer of 2021, Brooke also became a writing consultant through the IUS Writing Project and continues to incorporate writing in her science classroom.

Andrew Todd

Grade 6
All subjects
MSD of Lawrence Township

Andrew Todd is a sixth grade teacher at Mary Castle Elementary (MSD of Lawrence Township) in Indianapolis. You can often find him tutoring a student before school, meeting with a group of students during lunch, or attending a sporting event or performance in the evening or over the weekend. It is through these strong relationships that Mr. Todd is able to push his students to high levels of growth and achievement year after year. Inside Mr. Todd’s classroom, you’ll find fast-paced, standards-based, cooperative learning opportunities that place students in a constant state of productive struggle. His desire to develop truly gritty students is evident in every aspect of the school day. Andrew is the 6th grade PLC leader at Mary Castle as well as the 6th grade curriculum specialist for the entire district. He’s looking forward to serving and learning alongside IU faculty and students throughout the 23-24 school year.