Tie results in two GHS teachers being named Teacher of the Month

Friday, October 4, 2013
An unexpected tie resulted in both Dan Hankee and Bill Royalty being named the Banner Graphic's Teacher of the Month. Present for the awarding of the two $25 gift cards were (from left) Greencastle Principal Russ Hesler, Dan Hankee, Bill Royalty and Banner Graphic General Manager Daryl Taylor.

Nominated by their students and co-workers, both Bill Royalty and Dan Hankee of Greencastle High School were named the Banner Graphic's Teachers of the Month for September.

The two teachers accepted their prizes, both $25 gift cards to Green Apple Frogurt and Buffalo Wild Wings due to the tie, on Thursday afternoon at the school with Principal Russ Hesler by their side.

"This is the best news. I am very proud of all our faculty and staff here at GHS. I have the opportunity to be in each one of the their classrooms and they are very deserving of the award," Hesler said.

"They are both veteran educators and have a great passion for their content area while relating their subject matter to their students. Students really don't care how much you know until they know how much you care about them. These fine gentleman really care about their students.

"We have an exceptional faculty and these two are a great examples of that. GHS is blessed to have such a caring and knowledgeable staff," Hesler added.

Royalty, has been a teacher for 10 years and instructs biology at the high school. He is a graduate of North Central High in Harrison County and attended Indiana University for both his bachelor and master's degrees in biology and education.

After teaching middle school science and high school biology in Clark County, Royalty went on to attend the University of Virginia to earn his doctoral degree in science education. He also served as assistant professor of education at UVA and also at Sweet Briar College in Virginia.

"I left the classroom and embarked on an alternate career in educational publishing, serving as a national math/science consultant, working for several major publishers of classroom curriculum," Royalty explained. "Recently leaving the publishing field, I wanted to get back to teaching science and have found a home in the Greencastle, where every day is 'A Great Day to be a Tiger Cub.'"

He is hoping to use the money to help buy supplies or maybe as an incentive for his hardworking students.

"I think this is great," Royalty said of the contest. "Of the $25 I'm going to take $25 out of my own pocket and buy supplies for the class."

Hankee, an Indianapolis native and Ben Davis High School graduate, is a teacher of 12 years and instructs both physics and math.

He attended Indiana University and previously taught elementary school for two years in Illinois before joining the faculty at Greencastle High School in 2004.

"I'm going to eat some chicken wings," Henkee said with a smile. "I'm pleased to be able to represent the outstanding faculty that we have here at GHS. It is an honor to work with and learn from my colleagues, and I look forward to continuing to do so for many more years to come.

"We are collectively some of the finest educators in the state of Indiana, working long after the school day ends to bring the highest quality of instruction to the young people of our community."

After claiming the September award, Henkee and Royalty both will be in the running to get something a lot more fun for the classroom. The winner of the Teacher of the Year, which will be drawn in May, will receive a $500 grand prize, sponsored by First National Bank.

The winning teacher's school will also receive a $500 grand prize grant, sponsored by the Putnam County Community Foundation. The teacher will designate the program within the school that the grant will benefit.

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