Mike Wolanin | Republic CSA New Tech’s Veronica Buckler is Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation’s Teacher of the Year. She is pictured at CSA New Tech in Columbus, Ind., Friday, August 12, 2022.

In her own words, CSA New Tech Facilitator Veronica Buckler describes herself as a “huge fan of learning.”

And yet, despite that passion, she initially resisted the idea of ​​going into academia. It seemed like an “obvious job” and something she only knew in her small hometown.

However, Buckler eventually embraced her love of learning—so much so that she was named Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp.’s 2022 Teacher of the Year.

He will be honored at an upcoming BCSC school board meeting and represent the school corporation as his nominee for the Indiana State Teacher of the Year.

This school year marks Buckler’s ninth year as a teacher and his seventh year at CSA New Tech, where he is a facilitator for English and social studies courses.

She initially put off working in education because, “I thought it was too obvious, and I wanted to see what else was out there. I wanted to see what kind of different, exciting things I could do as a career. ,

Buckler instead chose to major in philosophy. After graduating, she wasn’t sure what to do. Her mother, who was a suspension instructor at a school Buckler once attended in middle school, noted that the school had always needed substitute teachers.

“I was there basically every day, in some capacity,” Buckler said. “And I found out that this is exactly what I love to do. I love talking about interesting information. I love letting a student understand what they are being taught, and I think I Also really like to spark that curiosity and take care of the world around you.”

After earning a master’s degree in education, Buckler taught seventh grade English in the county of Switzerland for two years. Then he and his companion went to Columbus. Despite not knowing much about the school, Buckler decided to apply to work at CSA New Tech.

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“It turned out to be the most amazing and perfect thing to happen to me, because this school has become my whole life,” she said.

While Buckler was initially skeptical about working in academia, she discovered that being a teacher meant “so many careers in one”. For example, a teacher may act as a consultant, project manager or gardener.

Joining CSA New Tech also made her realize that Project-Based Learning (PBL) allows teachers and students to explore all kinds of jobs and “for everything I get through education.” presents endless possibilities.”

“It’s always wonderful to interact with students through projects because I can bring them an idea of ​​what we’re going to work on, and then all of a sudden they adopt it and they turn it into something that Which I could never have imagined,” Buckler said. “And you can see their passion and their enthusiasm and see their learning in the moment, and that’s always great.”

When asked what was the most challenging part of their job, Buckler replied that students sometimes have difficulty focusing on academics because “there are so many more things going on in their lives.” She cannot control these things; All she can do is meet the students where they are and do her best to help them move forward. Still, she said it was “disappointing” and “heartbreaking” to learn that there are areas of her life where she can’t help.

“I guess, as a teacher, you’re always looking to see what you can do better, right?” Buckler said. “And you always are – reflection is part of being a teacher, and so you always think of ‘Well, it didn’t work out’ and ‘I could have done it better’ and ‘we can do it next year. are. And that’s why I’m constantly telling myself that I can do better. So saying I’m doing well seems foreign to me. And it’s great for me to stop and say to myself for a moment , ‘No, you’re doing a good job.'”

Being teacher of the year is “real,” she said. He said it really is a testament to CSA New Tech.

“I think I am who I am, as a teacher, because of this building and because of the people I work with and the students,” she said.