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Erin McIntyre Miller recently received the Gifted Coordinator Award from the National Association of Gifted Children at their National Conference in Pittsburgh on November 14-16. Her mom, Debbie McIntyre, former long-time fifth grade teacher at Hope Elementary, gladly accepted Erin's invitation to join her on this celebratory occasion.

After graduating from Hauser, as salutatorian I might add, Erin went on to Anderson University where she played volleyball for one year and received a Bachelors of Arts in Elementary Education. She then received a Master's Degree from Indiana Wesleyan University and Doctor of Education Degree from Walden University. 

After teaching 15 years as an elementary teacher in Paoli, where former Hope Elementary Principal, Warner J Michener started his education career, Erin switched to secondary education at North Lawrence Community Schools where she worked as a teacher, an instructional coach, and as a curriculum director. Erin has served as an adjunct professor at Indiana Wesleyan for the past nine years in three different educational degree programs. 

Currently, she is the Secondary Curriculum Director and High Ability Coordinator for Bedford North Lawrence Community Schools and serves on the Indiana Association for the Gifted board.

Erin shared the following about the award: 

I saw a need in our community and used the resources available to meet that need. When starting as the Director of Secondary Curriculum and Instruction and K-12 High Ability Coordinator three years ago, there was no cohesive high ability program. I used a high ability grant to purchase high ability curriculum in English/Language Arts and Math for all five elementary schools and established two elementary schools as high ability magnet schools. Our district also worked to refine identification practices and strengthen our early college program at the high school level. My work caught the eye of Dr. Kristie Speirs-Neumeister from Ball State University, and she nominated me for the National Association of Gifted Children Gifted Coordinator Award. I was completely shocked and honored to even be nominated, let alone chosen, and am grateful to all the people who have poured into me over the years: family members, teachers, friends, and colleagues. Without their love and support, I could not have become the educator I am today. I have truly been blessed to be surrounded by many wonderful people.

“I couldn't be prouder," Debbie said. "Erin always gives 100% to whatever endeavor she undertakes, and this award recognizes that effort as well as her dedication in providing the highest level of instructional excellence for students whose lives she has touched. I also view this prestigious award as a validation of what the Hope Community and the Flat Rock-Hawcreek School Corporation strives to accomplish: to provide an excellent foundation on which their young people can build successful careers in their respective fields as well as have a positive impact on the lives of those around them. I am extremely grateful for Hope.”

As a former teacher who spent 36 years in the Flat Rock-Hawcreek School Corporation, it is a great honor to be involved in this article since I had Erin as a student in fifth grade. And, as Erin and Debbie so well expressed, there is much praise to pass around.