Indiana Wesleyan University alumna Amanda (Funnell) Schwind ‘16 received the 2021 English Language Teacher of the Year Award in the Jessamine County school district in Kentucky.
“Receiving the English Language Teacher of the Year award for Jessamine County Schools was really empowering as it reminded me that I am seen. I am a valuable part of our district and the teams that I collaborate with,” said Schwind. “Knowing that I wanted to work with elementary-age English learners post-graduation, my professors, especially Dr. Anne Bruehler & Dr. Muchun Yin, really worked with me to have my assignments and senior research topic mesh with my future goals.”
Schwind graduated from IWU with a dual major in Elementary Education & TESOL Education. Because of her dual major, she was a student in both the Division of Teacher Education and the Division of Modern Language and Literature.
“I am thrilled with Amanda's accomplishment as being named Jessamine County's Teacher of the Year for English language,” said Dr. Anne Bruehler, professor in the Division of Modern Language and Literature. “Amanda always excelled in her TESOL classes at IWU—not only because she is extremely bright, but because she fully believed in her purpose as a teacher to serve and empower the students on the margin.”
The English Language Teacher Award is not given out every year but is created and given as deserved. Schwind was nominated by members from the Jessamine community including students' parents and Schwind’s co-workers.
“Nominations from parents and co-workers was a beautiful confirmation that my job truly is the ministry that I have claimed and prayed it would be all along,” said Schwind. “As I continued to pursue excellence through the struggles of teaching virtually and during a globally, trauma-inducing pandemic, I was reminded over and over again why I truly love teaching!”
During her time on campus, Schwind held leadership positions as the Chaplain in her residence hall and the Student Body Chaplain.
“Little did I know that these roles as Chaplain would also be instrumental in my current unofficial placement as the liaison between our local school district and the diverse seminary community where I live,” said Schwind. “Chaplaincy and my professors at IWU taught me how to advocate, often upstream, for others and for myself, which I believe will be a lifelong learning process.”
For more information on IWU’s Elementary Education program, visit https://www.indwes.edu/undergraduate/school-of-teacher-education/bs-elementary-education---elementary.
For more information about IWU’s Division of Modern Language and Literature, visit https://www.indwes.edu/undergraduate/division-of-modern-language-and-literature/.