Carroll teacher chosen area Teacher of the Year
By Susan Scholl Editor

Marsha Eckert

A long-time teacher at Carroll Jr.-Sr. High School was honored last Friday as the Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year for the Frankfort area.

Marsha Eckert received a $100 gift card for classroom supplies, a $1,000 grant to implement/ develop a program of her choosing in her school, and a Teacher of the Year shirt. A deli tray and cake will be brought to the school at a later date.

The presentation was made by Melissa Miller, community projects coordinator for the Frankfort store. She explained that every local Wal-Mart has a nomination center where the public can nominate teachers and administrations, preferably former teachers, for the honor.

"The neat thing about the program is that most nominations come from students," said Miller, who has been involved with the program for several years.

Miller said that the winning nomination for Eckert was submitted anonymously. The person wrote that had it not been for Eckert they would not have gone on to pursue higher education.

Eckert has taught high school English at Carroll for 27 years. Currently she teaches sophomore and senior English, college prep, and senior advanced placement.

CJSHS Principal Charles Huckstep congratulated Eckert. He praised her for how well she prepares Carroll graduates for college. He particularly cited her required term paper and how former students say that doing that paper helps them with their college classes.

Eckert expressed surprise at winning the honor. She added that her students complain about doing the term paper, but she hopes they use what they have learned.

"It's a headache for them and stress for me," she said, but "it's worth it."

Eckert said that it takes her at least two hours per term paper to figure a grade. She is often at the school nights and weekends this time of year with 47 students submitting term papers.

This is the first time for a Carroll teacher to be nominated for the award, according to Miller.

Winners from the local contest

are entered in the state contest where the top prize is a $10,000 grant.