By Marin Murray.
Social studies teacher Jennifer Jordan and journalism teacher Amber Via were named Teachers of the Year for Abilene High for the 2023-24 school year through the Abilene Education Foundation (AEF). The two teachers will be recognized at the Teachers in the Limelight Celebration in April.
“I think it’s a huge honor,” principal Emme Siburt said. “It’s always so rewarding to see that teachers are being noticed for what they are doing.”
The teachers were initially nominated by their department before being voted on by the rest of the rest of the faculty and staff at the school. All schools within the district award one teacher each year, except for the high schools, who get to honor two educators.
“I was so excited to know that I won Teacher of the Year,” Jordan said. “I was completely honored and humbled. We have so many amazing faculty members here at Abilene High, that it was just an honor.”
Jordan, who has been teaching at Abilene High for the entirety of her 25 year teaching career, currently serves as the social studies department chair and teaches both U.S. History as well as Holocaust and Genocide Studies. She also serves as the senior class sponsor and helps plan prom.
“It means so much to me,” Jordan said. “I can’t believe that my peers think that of me, and it’s just really exciting that I was able to achieve this honor.”
A high school teacher at the very school she graduated from, Jordan’s favorite part of her job is getting to connect with her peers and her students.
“My favorite part of teaching at Abilene High is the relationships thast I get to build with my students,” Jordan said. “They are incredible, and I get to be a part of their life for a year or sometimes two years. And I don’t think they realize the impact they have on me.”
Via echoed similar sentiments as Jordan, praising the teachers and staff of the campus and the incredible characteristics they each possess.
“I was so incredibly surprised,” Via said. “The list of nominees was a really great list of people that I highly respect and have a lot of admiration for what they do. So to have won that nomination, it just really surprised and overwhelmed me.”
Via, who has been at Abilene High for 14 years, teaches journalism and serves as the advisor for both the yearbook and student newspaper.
“It came at a really good time for me, where I needed a little bit of a boost,” Via said. “And that really provided it. It was really, really special.”
Even though it was Via whose character and hard work earned her the award, she feels as though the recognition truly belongs to her students.
“I think one of the things that was most special about that to me, is I feel like the people on campus who do know me, know me because of my students and the work that they do,” Via said. “There’s a big part of me that says this honor is not mine, but a lot of my students’ because that’s how people know who I am.”
In addition to being recognized at the formal dinner in April, the two longtime teachers will be honored on campus in a special way, featured in the news and will receive a monetary award. However, they are not the only people that are rewarded by their efforts.
“They are both fantastic teachers,” Siburt said. “I feel like students are rewarded every day by being in their classes.”
