Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
ARLINGTON, Va. – The Air Force Association (AFA) announced Madison Elementary School Principal Ben Barkey is the 2017 National Teacher of the Year, presented by Rolls- Royce.
As part of AFA’s mission to encourage education in aerospace education and science, technology, engineering and math, the Teacher of the Year program supports teachers that carry out that mission in the classroom.
“We congratulate Mr. Benjamin Barkey on his recognition by the Air Force Association for exemplary efforts to further science, technology, engineering and math education,” said Phil Burkholder, Rolls-Royce President of Defense Aerospace, North America.
“STEM is crucial not only to the future of the U.S. Air Force, but also to Rolls-Royce, as we design and manufacture some of the most advanced propulsion systems in the world. We are proud to sponsor the AFA National Teacher of the Year program and offer our sincere thanks to all the teachers around the U.S. who work every day to educate the engineers of tomorrow,” he continued.
According to the release, “Barkey’s passion for STEM education was instilled by his own childhood teachers. Now he is a dynamic STEM educator and mentor to everyone in his school system, students and teachers alike. Numerous STEM opportunities are now available to Warsaw Community Schools because of Barkey’s enthusiastic efforts, which include a mobile STEM laboratory that takes STEM learning to all elementary schools in the district.”
Warsaw Community Schools Superintendent Dr. David Hoffert said, “Ben is a consummate professional. He has made contributions as a leader, a teacher, a mentor, a role model, a coach, and a partner in our system and community. As the educational environment continues to respond to new challenges, Mr. Barkey develops creative approaches so that students continue to achieve excellence in the years ahead. His service to our schools has led to the creation of a roadmap of K-12 STEM education through the Washington, D.C., Smithsonian Institute, which will impact many future generations.”
Hoffert has dubbed the growth of STEM education in the school system as the “Ben factor.”
Barkey began his 15-year educational career by teaching middle school science and math. His inquiry-based instructional style yielded results leading him to become the lead facilitator for the transformation of a K-6 school into the first Indiana STEM-certified school, Washington STEM Academy.
While at Washington, he was the STEM instructional coach.
“Teachers need not be masters of content, but, rather, masters of learning. Teachers need to be facilitators of learning and model their own learning for students; they need to take risks and join their students in exploring new things that interest them. STEM is not just a four-letter acronym – it is an educational style; the tool for today to prepare for tomorrow,” Barkey said.
