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Karl Turk named Citizen of the Year by Putnam County Chamber
It’s hard to be around Karl Turk without noticing his energy.
There’s a big smile, a zest for life that can’t seem to be contained, particularly when he’s around his students at Cloverdale High School.
That energy was on full display Saturday night as Turk, the Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) coordinator at CHS, was named the 2021 Citizen of the Year by the Putnam County Chamber of Commerce.
Calling Turk a “phenomenal teacher,” Cloverdale Supt. Greg Linton credited Turk as having “totally changed the environment at Cloverdale High School.” Linton noted that at schools where he has worked previously, the JAG teacher would quietly occupy his or her own corner of the school.
“When Karl came on the scene, it was quite the opposite of that,” Linton said. “If something is going on at our school, Karl is there.”
It doesn’t hurt that Turk is also a Spanish teacher, after-school tutor, middle school assistant athletic director, JV boys’ basketball coach and announcer for other sports and events. But it goes beyond that. Linton noted how Turk spends countless hours helping students prepare for college.
“He’s the first guy they’ll show their acceptance letter to because he did so much to help them prepare,” Linton said.
Now in his sixth year at CHS, the Indianapolis native and Indiana State University graduate has also represented the high school at national JAG conventions.
“He’s just done an outstanding job for Cloverdale and the Putnam County community,” Linton said. “It is my honor this evening to present to you your Citizen of the Year, Karl Turk.”
At that moment, not only was Turk’s energy on display, but his self-effacing nature, as his first word was, “What?”
Turk and several of his JAG students were in attendance Saturday night because the students were serving as the wait staff for the Chamber annual dinner at Tiger Pointe Country Club.
“I’m indebted. Thank you,” Turk said. “In my mind I was thinking about maybe, possibly having to come up here and speak, but just about my JAG program. That’s really not my JAG program, it’s you all’s JAG program because what we’re doing is building the next core group of people who will be sitting in these seats.
“You guys have undertaken the mission to not only promote business but also the best resource we have in our community, these people,” Turk said, indicating his high school students. “So we thank you all for having us here this evening. In all candor, this is our county’s best investment, so it’s an honor for me just to do the same work that you all are doing. Whereas your work takes place in different factories, restaurants, businesses and places of that nature, mine takes place in the school house. So I am no different than any of you.
“Though this award has my name on it and my picture, it is reflective of all the work that you all do. So truthfully, from my heart, thank you.”
Always the highlight of the annual Chamber dinner, Citizen of the Year tends to be a bit of a cloak-and-dagger affair, not only in making sure the honoree is there, but also that some important people in his or her life can also share it.
By asking the JAG students to serve, the Chamber easily got Turk and his students, along with Linton, CHS Principal Sonny Stoltz and fellow teacher, coach and close friend Patrick Rady to the event.
Getting Turk’s mom Tina, not a Putnam County resident, to the event and hiding her in plain sight was another affair all together.
Throughout the night, Tina Turk sat almost squarely in the middle of Tiger Pointe’s reception hall, where her son passed by several times, even asking more than once if he could help her. She always kept her head down and kept her responses brief.
As Karl received his award, he finally recognized her and pointed to her from the front of the room.
“That’s why you had your head down ... and I never knew it was you,” he said. “First off, that’s my mom, so if anybody deserves a round of applause, it’s her.”
Turk later commented that he had wondered why the lady seemed to be avoiding eye contact, but he simply respected her privacy.
“I am proud of myself and my mom that she hid herself very clandestinely. I passed by and spoke to her and said, ‘ma’am,’ just the way she had raised me,” Turk said. “I just saw a lady that — my mom always told me to be polite to anyone — and that lady just happened to be my mom.”
Classifying his reaction as “total shock and appreciation,” Turk told the Banner Graphic the experience was incredible and humbling, as he believes he simply goes about his job and does it to the best of his ability like anyone else.
“Certainly I have the chance to be in charge of a group of students and they are a vital resource in our community, but it’s just humbling to think that the same people in this community who are putting just as much into as I am deem me to be the worthy of this award,” Turk said. “I am totally humbled.”
As for that contagious energy of his, Turk credits the students.
“People credit me for having energy and building something, but by the same token, the students have energy and they’ve built it too,” Turk said. “It’s a reciprocal relationship, and I don’t think a lot of people see that in education that, for a lot of teachers, the students are what energize them.
“This is a Saturday night, and I’m here and having just as good of a time before I even got the award,” he added. “I just reveled in seeing my students here and opportunities to make connections and grow. They’re an extension of me — when I see them grow, relish and prosper, I feel like I grow, relish and prosper. So prior to getting that award, I was feeling like an award winner, just seeing my students having new experiences. And then here comes this icing on the cake.”
JAG is a state-based, school-to-career program committed to stemming dropouts among students who may have significant obstacles to graduation or employment, and enables work-based learning experiences which can lead to greater success after high school.
Cloverdale High School’s JAG program is part of Region Seven in Indiana, which consists of all of the high schools in Putnam, Clay, Parke, Sullivan, Vigo and Vermillion counties.
Turk is so much more than JAG coordinator, though, as Principal Sonny Stoltz attests.
“Karl Turk is a unique, special and dedicated educator,” Stoltz said. “He works hard to give each student who comes in contact with him his undivided attention. He at times serves as the face of Cloverdale High School with his presence at sporting events and his guidance in post-secondary education.
“The students love him. The staff respects him. He is the consummate professional,” Stoltz continued. “It is amazing during sporting contests, when Karl is announcing, the opposing team loves to hear him announce and do the play by play. Each competitor, both home and visitor, feels special and enjoys the moment. It is hard to duplicate at all levels.”
Stoltz also noted that Turk will some day prove himself to be a tough act to follow.
“I always said that when or if Karl Turk cannot continue his duties, the next person who takes over the announcing, teaches Spanish or guides the JAG program, they are going to have big shoes to fill,” Stoltz said. “At the end of the day, it is amazing how Karl deflects the recognition and honor by placing all credit on those around him. A true leader. We are glad to have him here as a Clover.”
Mainly happy to be a part of such an effort for Cloverdale High School, Turk was simply grateful after collecting the Citizen of the Year honor.
“This is probably one of the moments of my life that I’ll cherish the most,” Turk said. “This is probably the first opportunity that I’ve had for my Mom to come out to an experience like this. So to tie the community to that part of my life was something I’ll remember forever.”
Putnam County Citizens of the Year
Winners of Citizen of the Year include: Hazel Day Longden, the inaugural recipient in 1982; Hubert Clodfelter, 1983; Howard Williams, 1984; Bessie Rector, 1985; Mace Aker, 1986; Bobby G. Albright, 1987; Gerald E. Warren, 1988; David Barr, 1989; Jim Harris, 1990; Dr. James Johnson, 1991; Charles Chandler, 1992; Bob Evans, 1993; Julia “Judy” Johnson, 1994; Jerald D. Calbert, 1995; Harold Spicer, 1996; Jinsie Bingham, 1997; Dave Young, 1998; Barbara Lane, 1999; Ellen Sedlack, 2000; the trio of Lynn Wilson, Denise Sigworth and Rachel Seipel in 2001; Mike Rokicki, 2002; Joy Marley, 2003; Charles Miles, 2004; Judge Sally Gray, 2005; Dr. Donald “Doc” Brattain, 2006; Charles “Chuck” Schroeder, 2007; Lynn Bohmer, 2008; Ken Heeke, 2009; Becky Brothers, 2010; Judge Diana LaViolette, 2011; Judy Miller, 2012; Dr. Perry Wainman, 2013; Emily Knuth and Suzanne Masten, 2014; Sue Murray, 2015; Eric Bernsee, 2016; Ginger Scott, 2017; Ken Eitel, 2018; Laurie Hardwick, 2019; the citizens of Putnam County, 2020; Karl Turk, 2021.