East Allen County Schools names year’s top teachers

Prince Chapman Academy teacher Heidi Koeneman spent Tuesday wondering why her principal planned to visit her fifth grade classroom that afternoon.

The East Allen County Schools educator doubted she was in trouble, but she racked her brain, searching for a reason.

“I was like, what’d these kids do? What did we do yesterday? Or, did I give the wrong ILEARN test? I know I didn’t,” Koeneman said, laughing in the hallway moments after learning she is the district’s Elementary Teacher of the Year.

Koeneman’s colleagues overwhelmingly supported her nomination, Principal Jake Hyndman said. He noted she excels at every aspect of the profession.

A graduate of EACS and Purdue University Fort Wayne, Koeneman is in her 12th year of teaching. She has spent her entire career at Prince Chapman Academy, a school of about 800 students in grades three through six.

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