University Of Evansville, Courier & Press

The University of Evansville and the Evansville Courier & Press honored our area’s outstanding educators of the year during a May 1 banquet on the UE campus. Bishop Charles C. Thompson served as the featured speaker, and Good Shepherd School Principal Judy VanHoosier offered the invocation.

Reitz Memorial High School art teacher Mark Schoenbaum received the award (announced April 1 at the school) as Outstanding High School Teacher of the Year. Holy Rosary School teacher Bonnie Ambrose also earned recognition as a finalist for Middle School Teacher of the Year.

“I am humbled by this,” Schoenbaum said as he received his award. “I love going to work every day.” His wife, parents and fellow Memorial art teacher Laura Ackerman and her husband filled one of three tables at the event with people there because of Schoenbaum.

“That pointed hat I wear is called a mitre,” Bishop Thompson told the crowd, “and it represents the teaching office of the bishop. I rely on the Catholic Schools Office and the Office of Catechesis for best teaching practices.”

After noting that the Diocese of Evansville’s 24 elementary schools and four high schools serve more than 7,300 students, Bishop Thompson explained that the diocesan Catholic schools theme for this year is “A Family of Families,” and that the national theme is “Faith, Knowledge and Service.”

“The role of educators is invaluable and certainly worthy of celebration,” he said. “As great as you educators may be, you cannot substitute for what families must do first and foremost in educating their children. We are all educators and students.”

Bishop Thompson also talked about the Indiana bishops’ pastoral letter on poverty, which was released on Ash Wednesday (Feb. 18). “We believe that education is one of the key elements to breaking the cycle of poverty,” he said.

IN THE PHOTO:

Reitz Memorial High School teacher Mark Schoenbaum enjoyed enthusiastic support May 1 when he was honored as the High School Teacher of the Year by the University of Evansville and the Evansville Courier & Press. Attendees included Laura Ackerman, left, who teaches art at Memorial with Schoenbaum; Memorial Principal Cynthia Schneider;  Memorial Assistant Principal Lisa Popham; Good Shepherd Principal Judy VanHoosier, who gave the invocation; Memorial President Brother Lawrence Murphy; Holy Rosary Principal Joan Fredrich; Holy Rosary teacher Bonnie Ambrose, a finalist for the Middle School Teacher of the Year honor; Bishop Charles C. Thompson, the featured speaker at the dinner; Schoenbaum; and Diocese of Evansville Superintendent of Schools Daryl Hagan.

The Message photo by Tim Lilley