Bloomington Chamber of Commerce
  • Business Directory
  • Membership
    • Join Today!
    • Benefits of Membership >
      • Business Resources
      • Cost Saving Programs
      • Co-Work Space & Conference Room
      • Diversity Equity and Inclusion
      • Marketing
      • Networking >
        • Business After Hours
      • Ribbon Cuttings and Milestones
    • Levels of Membership
    • Member Login
    • Member Materials
    • Ambassadors >
      • Welcome Committee
      • Ambassador Toolkit
  • News & Events
    • Chamber News >
      • Sign Up For News
    • Member News
    • Chamber Events Calendar
    • Signature Events
    • Sponsorship
    • Multimedia Gallery
  • Advocacy
    • Advocacy Matters Updates >
      • Sign Up for Advocacy News
    • Local Government Advisory Boards
    • Elected Officials Directory
    • Transparency in Government
    • State Legislative Process
    • 2023 Municipal Election >
      • Mayoral Candidates 2023
      • City Council Candidates 2023
    • 2023 Local Public Policy
    • 2023 State-Federal Advocacy
    • Resources >
      • Civic Engagement
      • Gender Wage Gap
      • Housing
      • Taxes
      • Transportation
  • Community
    • #BTownChamberEats
    • Black-Owned Business Affinity Group
    • Bloomington Women in Leadership >
      • BWIL Steering Committee
    • Job Board
    • The Success School >
      • How To Get Involved
      • Programs >
        • Request Programming
      • About Us
      • Success School FAQs
      • Contact The Success School
    • Young Professionals >
      • YPB Steering Committee
      • Ten Under 40
      • YPB Events
    • Community Calendar
  • About Us
    • Our Team
    • Board of Directors
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • History
    • Chamber App
    • Contact

Chamber News
Press Releases & News Updates

Introducing the 2021 Educator of the Year Lifetime Achievement Awardee

2/22/2021

0 Comments

 
PictureKathleen Hugo
Why did you choose the field of education as a career?
As a college freshman in Texas, I had a friend who was a sign language interpreter.  I went with her to visit a preschool classroom for Deaf students. I was immediately taken by the teacher’s skill in helping her students develop both communication and academic skills. I thought “that is what I want to do.” Interestingly, when I finished college, my first job was in that same school, working alongside that teacher who had so inspired me.

What is one piece of advice you would give to a person entering into the education field during an unprecedented times?
I’ve come to realize the power that educators have to transform the lives of their students.  I’ve seen it so many times through the years—how a skilled and committed teacher can make the classroom (even a virtual classroom) a place where students can grow and thrive, academically, socially, and emotionally. I would want anyone entering the field, regardless of the times,  to be aware of the immense power they hold in shaping students’ lives.

What would you identify as your greatest success(es), especially in light of the current environment?
Equity and inclusion are so important, today more than ever.  MCCSC has had such a longstanding commitment to the inclusion of students with disabilities, and I’m proud of being able to help support the work of so many in continuing to move that foward.  When I first start teaching in 1980 we were thrilled that students with disabilities were on the same campus with typical peers, even if they were in portable classrooms behind the gym. Now they are routinely taught  in classrooms alongside their peers and a part of the everyday life of their school community. Our staff has worked really hard to ensure that the needs of students with more significant disabilities, emotional and behavioral challenges and  others are met.  Teachers and staff have embraced concepts such as trauma-informed care as they work to figure out ways to keep kids successful and in school. Our school corporation has made good progress in addressing issues of equity in recent years, but like so many institutions in our society, we must continue to hold ourselves to a higher standard and insist on equity for  those who have been marginalized.

What is your favorite quote/saying?
“Every child deserves a champion: an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection and insists they become the best they can possibly be. “  –Rita Pearson

What is the most rewarding part of your profession?
For me, by far the most rewarding aspect of my work has been hearing from parents or caregivers that their student is doing well—that they are making good academic progress, feeling good about school, making new friends, or any other positive outcome.  And sometimes teachers will send me video of students doing things in class—clever, adorable, brilliant, or simply funny—that the staff and families have been working so hard on to accomplish.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    Chamber News

    This blog contains press releases, other news updates from the Chamber, news articles and radio interviews featuring interviews with the Chamber and team members,  and much more!

    All press releases have been sent out to community organizations and news agencies. Downloadable version of these press releases are available at the end of each blog post.

    ​
    For media inquires, please contact Director of Communications & Events, Kaytee Lorentzen.

    ​Categories

    Categories

    All
    Advocacy Matters
    Annual Meeting & Community Awards
    Appointments And Staff Updates
    Bloomington Women In Leadership
    Board Of Directors
    Business Outlook
    Chamber Insider Update
    Chamber In The News
    Community Conversations
    Convention Center
    Diversity Equity And Inclusion (DEI)
    Educator Of The Year
    Elect Connect
    Equity
    Event
    Federal Focus
    Glass In The Afternoon
    Guest Column
    Health & Business
    Hometown Hero
    Honors & Awards
    ICEA
    It's Your Business
    Legislative Preview
    Local Government
    News Articles
    Partnership
    Podcast Interviews
    PPE
    Press Release
    PrimeTime Business Expo
    Public Transit
    Radio Interviews
    SMART Business Summit
    Success School
    Ten Under 40
    Video
    Women Excel Bloomington
    Young Professionals Bloomington

    Archives

    Archives

    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020

    RSS Feed

The Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce.  All Rights Reserved.
421 W 6th Street, Suite A  |  Bloomington, IN 47404
Phone: (812)336-6381 | info@chamberbloomington.org | sitemap
Office Hours:
Monday-Thursday: 9:00am - 5:00pm
Friday: 9:00am-3:00pm

There is a no refund policy for events.  If you need to reassign your ticket to another person we will be happy to update our attendance list. Thank you.
Picture
  • Business Directory
  • Membership
    • Join Today!
    • Benefits of Membership >
      • Business Resources
      • Cost Saving Programs
      • Co-Work Space & Conference Room
      • Diversity Equity and Inclusion
      • Marketing
      • Networking >
        • Business After Hours
      • Ribbon Cuttings and Milestones
    • Levels of Membership
    • Member Login
    • Member Materials
    • Ambassadors >
      • Welcome Committee
      • Ambassador Toolkit
  • News & Events
    • Chamber News >
      • Sign Up For News
    • Member News
    • Chamber Events Calendar
    • Signature Events
    • Sponsorship
    • Multimedia Gallery
  • Advocacy
    • Advocacy Matters Updates >
      • Sign Up for Advocacy News
    • Local Government Advisory Boards
    • Elected Officials Directory
    • Transparency in Government
    • State Legislative Process
    • 2023 Municipal Election >
      • Mayoral Candidates 2023
      • City Council Candidates 2023
    • 2023 Local Public Policy
    • 2023 State-Federal Advocacy
    • Resources >
      • Civic Engagement
      • Gender Wage Gap
      • Housing
      • Taxes
      • Transportation
  • Community
    • #BTownChamberEats
    • Black-Owned Business Affinity Group
    • Bloomington Women in Leadership >
      • BWIL Steering Committee
    • Job Board
    • The Success School >
      • How To Get Involved
      • Programs >
        • Request Programming
      • About Us
      • Success School FAQs
      • Contact The Success School
    • Young Professionals >
      • YPB Steering Committee
      • Ten Under 40
      • YPB Events
    • Community Calendar
  • About Us
    • Our Team
    • Board of Directors
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • History
    • Chamber App
    • Contact