North Adams-Jerome teacher wins state award

NORTH ADAMS — North Adams-Jerome Middle School science teacher Jordan Priebe is the winner of the Teachers of Tomorrow Michigan Teacher of the Year Award.

“I was extremely excited to even be nominated for the award, it was a surprise to me! When I found out I won, I had to double check I read the email correctly. Then I immediately started thinking of what I could use the prize for in my classroom,” Priebe said.

The prize was $500 for Priebe to use to support her classroom.

Daniel Shadik, superintendent of North Adams-Jerome Public Schools, said he wasn’t at all surprised that Priebe won the award.

“Jordan is a fantastic educator. She understands that building relationships is the foundation of learning,” he said. “The North Adams-Jerome Community is very proud of Jordan and we are happy she is a Ram!”

A Teacher of the Year award was given to one teacher in each of the nine states that Teachers of Tomorrow is involved in.

Shadik said that Priebe’s teaching style and relationship with her students especially stands out.

“Her students respond positively to the hands-on approach taken in the classroom and truly are enjoying learning. Jordan is able to meet students where they are at and fosters a fun and relevant learning environment,” he said. “Jordan is always participating in assemblies and truly enjoys her student interactions.”

Priebe is very involved with the community and is also the varsity softball coach for the school. She said that the school and community has been very supportive of her through the award’s nomination process.

“I’ve had multiple students, both present and past, come to congratulate me and ask me more about it,” she said. “I have a wonderful amount of support from my superintendent, Dan Shadik, and many other co-workers on a daily basis, which has allowed me to even get to where I am now in my career.”

Shadik said that it was really impactful for the school to have one of its teachers win the award and show the impact that new teachers are making in the teaching field.

Subscribe Now: For all the latest local developments, breaking news and high school sports content.

“With Michigan being in a teacher shortage, schools are relying heavily on alternative teacher programs such as the Michgan Teachers of Tomorrow Program. This award is significant because it highlights professionals who have made the transition to teaching from various professional fields,” Shadik said. “Out of the hundreds of teachers currently in Michigan alternative programs, this award highlights Jordan as the best of the best.”

This is Priebe’s third year of teaching full-time and she said she is excited to continue serving in the community by being the best teacher she can be.

“I was drawn to teaching to be able to help guide students through some of the most transitional times of their lives,” Priebe said. “My goal is to be a rock for my students, someone they can count on that will be there for them and challenge them in the classroom.”

— Elyse Apel is a correspondent for The Hillsdale Daily News. She can be reached by email at ehawkins@hillsdale.edu.

This article originally appeared on Hillsdale Daily News: North Adams-Jerome teacher wins state award