Four Tippecanoe Valley Teachers Retire

July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.

By Staff Report-

AKRON - Four teachers are retiring from Tippecanoe Valley Schools this year.

Priscilla Burdge graduated from Roann High School. She earned a bachelor's degree from Hanover College in sociology with a minor in psychology.

She started her teaching career in the North Miami School District, teaching kindergarten for a semester. She enjoyed it so much, she signed a temporary contract at Rochester to teach second grade while attending Manchester College to earn a teaching certificate. She later earned a master's degree from Hanover College.

Burdge has sponsored Akron Elementary's food drive and teaches English as a second language classes. She serves on the Akron Library Board, and works with her husband, Ross, on the Akron Community Relations Task Force.

During retirement, Burdge plans to travel and visit her three grown children.

Julia Teel graduated from Tippecanoe Valley High School, and then moved on to Indiana State University. At ISU, she earned her bachelor's and master's degrees.

She began teaching in the Vigo County School Corp., where she taught for eight years. She has taught at Akron Elementary for the past 20 years.

Teel has been the sponsor of the Akron Pride Council for the past 11 years. The council has been recognized as an honor council for the past 10 years. She also has been an active participant in various activities throughout the school and community during her entire teaching career.

She and her husband Gary have three daughters. During retirement, she plans to spoil her four grandchildren rotten.

Dennis Grossnickle began his teaching career in 1974 at Seeger Junior-Senior High School, Warren County. After moving to North Carolina in 1976, he returned to Indiana in 1986 and accepted his current teaching position at Tippecanoe Valley High School.

During his 21 years at Valley, Grossnickle has served as coach for the academic team and chaired committees. Outside of school, he also serves as a board member on the Lake Manitou Association and is a volunteer for Indiana Clean Lakes.

During retirement, he plans to spend many weekends cycling, and operate Channels Cycling repair shop. He and his wife Christi have two children.

Polly Finney's teaching career spans 39 years and 11 U.S. presidents.

She started teaching in fall 1966 at Mentone. The school did not have an art teacher, so when her student teaching was over, she took the job.

She has taught high school and elementary art, and high school physical education. Over the years, she has taught art at Talma, Burket and the middle school.

She was a class sponsor and a sponsor for GAA, Sunshine Society, cheerleaders, cheer block and concession stand.[[In-content Ad]]

AKRON - Four teachers are retiring from Tippecanoe Valley Schools this year.

Priscilla Burdge graduated from Roann High School. She earned a bachelor's degree from Hanover College in sociology with a minor in psychology.

She started her teaching career in the North Miami School District, teaching kindergarten for a semester. She enjoyed it so much, she signed a temporary contract at Rochester to teach second grade while attending Manchester College to earn a teaching certificate. She later earned a master's degree from Hanover College.

Burdge has sponsored Akron Elementary's food drive and teaches English as a second language classes. She serves on the Akron Library Board, and works with her husband, Ross, on the Akron Community Relations Task Force.

During retirement, Burdge plans to travel and visit her three grown children.

Julia Teel graduated from Tippecanoe Valley High School, and then moved on to Indiana State University. At ISU, she earned her bachelor's and master's degrees.

She began teaching in the Vigo County School Corp., where she taught for eight years. She has taught at Akron Elementary for the past 20 years.

Teel has been the sponsor of the Akron Pride Council for the past 11 years. The council has been recognized as an honor council for the past 10 years. She also has been an active participant in various activities throughout the school and community during her entire teaching career.

She and her husband Gary have three daughters. During retirement, she plans to spoil her four grandchildren rotten.

Dennis Grossnickle began his teaching career in 1974 at Seeger Junior-Senior High School, Warren County. After moving to North Carolina in 1976, he returned to Indiana in 1986 and accepted his current teaching position at Tippecanoe Valley High School.

During his 21 years at Valley, Grossnickle has served as coach for the academic team and chaired committees. Outside of school, he also serves as a board member on the Lake Manitou Association and is a volunteer for Indiana Clean Lakes.

During retirement, he plans to spend many weekends cycling, and operate Channels Cycling repair shop. He and his wife Christi have two children.

Polly Finney's teaching career spans 39 years and 11 U.S. presidents.

She started teaching in fall 1966 at Mentone. The school did not have an art teacher, so when her student teaching was over, she took the job.

She has taught high school and elementary art, and high school physical education. Over the years, she has taught art at Talma, Burket and the middle school.

She was a class sponsor and a sponsor for GAA, Sunshine Society, cheerleaders, cheer block and concession stand.[[In-content Ad]]
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