Carthage R-9 School District and the Carthage Chamber of Commerce are pleased to announce the four winners of the Golden Key Teacher of the Year Award for the 2020-2021 school year. Recipients of this prestigious award are Dr. Bobbi Murrell, Steadley Elementary; Brianna Mertens, Sixth Grade Center; Josh VanSlyke, Carthage Junior High; and Elizabeth Turley, Carthage High School. Nominations were received from members of the public, students, parents, faculty, and staff. This is the 28th year the Golden Key Award has been presented.
Teachers, administrators, and other certified staff members play a vital role in the lives of children. The purpose of the Golden Key Awards program is to recognize excellence in the teaching profession and to inform the public of the exceptional quality of instruction in the Carthage community.
Said Brianna Mertens on receiving the award, “It is a privilege to be nominated and selected for the Golden Key Award. The parents and students of this community have positively impacted me and my family, and I am honored they feel the same toward me. I look forward to continuing to learn and serve alongside so many fantastic teachers in the Carthage School District.”
One of Mrs. Mertens students nominated her saying, “She knows how to involve everyone at all times and knows how to make me laugh. In class there are kids who may not have gotten the chance to be in a class with a friend but she made it easy for people to make friends and to get along with each other.”
One teacher, administrator, or other certified staff member is honored from each of the following categories: Early Childhood (preschool through third grade); fourth through sixth grades; seventh through eighth grades; and ninth through twelfth grades. The most important criterion used in evaluating the recipients of the Golden Key Award is their ability to inspire students of all background and abilities to reach their full potential through the educational process.
Elementary school teacher Dr. Bobbi Murrell’s colleague stated, “Bobbi is the most generous person I have ever known. She is constantly giving…time, effort, love, help, and support to her colleagues, friends, teammates, and students. I get to teach with her every day so I see this on a daily basis. Bobbi is the kind of teacher that loves first. As our standards and expectations increase, that’s easy to forget sometimes. We get caught up in data and in pushing these little guys to mastery when truly our first job is to love them. I don’t know anybody who does a better job of just that than her. With society and all things happening in our world today, Bobbi is an excellent reminder of what our students need most.”
Dr. Murrell commented, “It is such a privilege to receive this award! The complete truth is that I work with the best team and peers this business has to offer, and it is that fact which has allowed me to be even a little successful. I am eternally grateful for the people in my building, district, and community, as well as the parents who have blessed me with their precious children. This award is a celebration of us all!”
Of junior high math teacher Josh VanSlyke, the student nominating him said, “Mr. VanSlyke is a very kind teacher; he always treats you with respect. He cares for everyone. It doesn’t matter if you are in his class or not, you are always treated with kindness and respect. He always pushes you to be the best you can. He has been one of the best math teachers I have ever had. He helps you in any way he can. I know he will always be willing to help me. His class is fun, and he makes sure to have a good learning environment.”
Said VanSlyke, “There are so many deserving teachers for this award, so to be selected, it is incredibly humbling and truly an honor I am extremely grateful for. Having the privilege to teach and coach so many amazing students this year, work with my amazing colleagues every day and receive the guidance and leadership of the best principals around, has made this year the most rewarding of all my years in education.”
About Elizabeth Turley, the high school student who nominated her said “She helps me through everything, whether that be life or school, she always puts a smile on my face and I look forward to her class always.”
“The best way to describe being a Golden Key recipient is that I feel seen, which I suppose is fitting as my hope and goal is that each one of my students feels seen in my classroom. This award really belongs to my current and former students and the teachers around me (especially the high school English department and our media center specialists); thank you, and as always, ‘Good Luck & Go Tigers!’” stated Turley.
Dr. Mark Baker, Superintendent of the Carthage R-9 School District commented, “We are blessed with fantastic teachers in our district. The four teachers chosen as Golden Key winners are no exceptions.”
