Program To Honor IPS Teachers Making A Difference

Indiana Pacers guard George Hill says he wouldn’t be where he is today without the guidance of his Broad Ripple High School English teacher, Mrs. Avery.

"In high school I was that athlete that was pretty good.  Not to toot any horns, but I was one of the top basketball players coming from this state, but she didn't care about none of that," said Hill.  "It was education first.  It doesn't matter how good you are, she is not going to let me just be that athlete, she wanted me to be a special person."

Hill was reunited with Susan Avery, Monday, for the first time since his senior year of high school at the kickoff of the United Ways’ new program honoring teachers.  

"It's wonderful to know that it really did make a difference in his life," Avery said.  "He hasn't turned his back on Indianapolis or Broad Ripple.  He is such a valuable part of our community and I value that fact that he values (teachers)."

The United Way program is a partnership with IPS and the Hubbard Foundation.

Each year, four Indianapolis Public School teachers will receive $25,000 for their hard work and six will be given $1,000.

The idea came after Al and Kathy Hubbard read a story about a teacher at John Marshall High School.

"We said, you know, there are teachers in IPS, in troubled schools that are turning kids' lives around and yet they are not getting recognized and they are not getting rewarded," said Al Hubbard.  "And so, why don't we in our little way do something about that and create the Life Changing Teacher Award."

The teacher they read about and who inspired the program, Jamie Kalb, was the first award recipient.

The Hubbards presented her with a $25,000 check, Monday.  

"I'm shocked still and I'm still in awe," Kalb said after receiving the award.  "I teach very differently.  I look at the kids and make sure they understand that education is the way to the world. I make sure that we learn life lessons.  It's education, but it's truly life lessons every single day."

The Hubbard Family Foundation plans to invest up to $400,000 to create the Hubbard Prize for Life-Changing Teachers.

Teacher nominations will be accepted through January 24 with an honors ceremony May 28 at the Eiteljorg Museum.