February 2021 Educator of the Month
Superintendent, Ms. Tammy Chavis, is thrilled to announce that Mr. Chad Gutzwiller, a teacher at Franklin County Middle School, has been selected as February’s “Educator of the Month.”
Mr. Gutzwiller is in his second year of teaching for Franklin County Community Schools. Prior to coming to Franklin County, Mr. Gutzwiller taught at Union County Middle School. Mr. Gutzwiller is a graduate of Ball State University where he earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Education.
Mr. Gutzwiller was nominated for this honor by a parent. When asked why Mr. Gutzwiller should be considered for this recognition, the parent responded, “The start of the 2020/2021 school year was a challenge for all teachers, students, and parents. Mr. Gutzwiller took on this year as if he has been teaching, in-class, and virtually, his whole career. Beginning in August, he took it upon himself to send a daily email for all students, in class or quarantined. He also started a daily video for all students to watch from home. With all of the changes and challenges, he reminds them that they are not alone.”
In addition to his teaching responsibilities, Mr. Gutzwiller is the sponsor for the FCMS Honor Society and serves on both the school Leadership and Emergency Management Teams. He also proudly serves as the ambassador for Veteran families at FCMS where they received the Purple Star Designation by the Indiana Department of Education. Aside from school-related functions, Mr. Gutzwiller is involved in the music ministry at All Saints Parish and Saint Peter’s Catholic Church. He is a member of Sons of the American Legion at Post 464 (Saint Leon, IN) and serves on the Chancellor’s Board of Trustees for Ivy Tech Community College (Batesville and Lawrenceburg Campus Sites).
When not at school, Mr. Gutzwiller is fond of playing the piano, studying meteorology, and maintaining his Facebook page called WeatherWave. Moreover, he thoroughly enjoys reading and visiting areas of historical interest including a 10-day pilgrimage to the Holy Land and a trip to Boston, Massachusetts.
When asked what he loves most about his job, Mr. Gutzwiller responded, “Where do I begin? The energy and personality of the students! Seeing the smile or that “lightbulb” appear when a student makes a connection is amazing! I love discovering that “spark” to ignite the motivation and enthusiasm for the student. I love being able to exchange a sense of humor while also challenging them to become the best version of themselves in life. I also love the middle school family. I appreciate the trust given to us (teachers) by the administration to be the best teachers we can be in class. I value the dialogue established by my colleagues to exchange new ideas in the classroom while also having an interest in each other and our personal families. While I am humbled by this recognition, it is a reflection of the dedication and passion exerted by my middle school colleagues and students–my middle school family.”
The purpose of the “Educator of the Month” program is to recognize outstanding Franklin County educators who demonstrate excellence in the classroom, leadership in the school, dedication to the students, and involvement in the community. Nomination forms for “Educator of the Month” can be found on the school corporation website at www.fccsc.k12.in.us.