Mid-Ohio Education Service Center’s Gifted Teacher, Michelle Vance, was named OAGC 2017 Teacher of the Year!
Mid-Ohio Education Service Center’s Gifted Teacher, Michelle Vance, was named Ohio Association for Gifted Children’s (OAGC) 2017 Teacher of the Year! A special ceremony was held to award winners at this year’s annual OAGC Conference on October 16 in Columbus, Ohio.
Mrs. Vance is placed full time in Bucyrus City Schools as the Elementary Gifted Intervention Specialist. Her primary role in the district is serving the gifted and talented students in grades 2-5 that have been identified in math and reading. She often collaborates with the classroom teachers as they implement inter-disciplinary units, like robotics, to meet and exceed standards outlined in the students’ educational plans. Michelle also co-teaches a coding and engineering class one day per week at the Secondary School.
“It is a great joy to be able to foster growth in gifted students, to be able to challenge their learning, and watch them share their products from their challenging learning experiences with others. It brings me great satisfaction to be part of their school career,” shared Vance. 
Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center’s Superintendent, Linda T. Keller, shared “We are very proud of our teacher, Mrs. Vance, for this distinguished recognition as OAGC Teacher of the Year. She is an outstanding instructor, an inspiring educator, a truly innovative leader, and an immensely compassionate teacher.”
Students that work with Mrs. Vance say that they appreciate how much she cares for them. Her greatest asset is the relationship she builds with each of her students. Parents also appreciate that she values their child’s social and emotional development and often comment that her integration of technology and engaging instructional strategies keep them interested in retaining their children in the programming offered at Bucyrus Elementary.
Michelle credits the excellent support she receives from the administration and colleagues at Mid-Ohio ESC and Bucyrus and wants to thank the students and families that make her work so rewarding.