Susan Davis named South Bend Community School Corporation 2020 Teacher of the Year

Susan Davis named South Bend Community School Corporation 2020 Teacher of the Year
Posted on 05/20/2020
Susan Davis

Susan Davis, first grade teacher at Clay International Academy, was named 2020 Teacher of the Year for the South Bend Community School Corporation (SBCSC). The runner-up Teacher of the Year was Susan Pemberton, fifth grade teacher at Warren Elementary School.

In a virtual ceremony live streamed on Tuesday, May 19, Superintendent Dr. Todd Cummings and Chief Academic Officer Dr. Susan Devetski honored 30 nominees from across the district. Nominees were selected by their peers in their respective SBCSC schools, designating them as the Teacher of the Year for their school. Of that group of 30, an “honors group” of ten was selected by a group of evaluators, including the runner-up and overall winner. Evaluators include retired and current teachers.

Davis, who has taught at Clay International Academy for two years, began her teaching career in South Bend at Darden Elementary School, where she taught for two years. Prior to that, she taught for 12 years in the Indianapolis Public School district.

As SBCSC Teacher of the Year, Davis will receive a $2,500 Professional Growth Grant from South Bend Education Foundation. Ordinarily, the district winner represents the South Bend Community School Corporation at the state level as a 2020-21 Indiana Teacher of the Year candidate. However, since every Indiana teacher was required to use digital learning since March because schools closed due to COVID 19, State Superintendent Dr. Jennifer McCormack has announced that “ALL Indiana teachers, collectively, are being named 2021 Teachers of the Year.” The selection process for naming an Indiana Teacher of the Year is suspended for this year, but winners this year will still be in the running for the following year’s award.

Contact: Susan Guibert, Chief Communications Officer, [email protected] or 574-286-4839.