Susan Converse, a special education teacher at EHS, was recently nominated as a finalist for Teacher of the Year. On Oct. 20, the winner will be announced at the Those Who Excel banquet.

Mrs. Converse had taught special education for 10 years when she was asked to go into administration. After nine years in administration, she asked to go back into the classroom.

“I just really missed the kids,” Mrs. Converse said.

After that, the special education director at the high school asked Mrs. Converse to come to the high school to teach. She said absolutely.

“I’ve worked with all the major categories of disabilities, and I’ve loved every single job I’ve had,” Mrs. Converse said. “But I find this really rewarding because I’m seeing kids into adulthood and hopefully a job.”

You can’t talk about Mrs. Converse without bringing up something important to almost everyone at EHS: The Tiger Den.

“It was designed to be a prevocational training program,” Mrs. Converse said. “It’s blossomed into a very successful business.”

The Tiger Den is completely self-operating, and pays for all its own expenses. Not only does it pay for itself, it yields a profit.

“We feel it’s important to give back, so once a month we choose an individual in need. Last year we donated close to $9,000,” Mrs. Converse said.

What’s most important to Mrs. Converse is that the Tiger Den teaches her students real-life skills.

“Everything is designed to be authentic and transferable to a job out in the community,” Mrs. Converse said.

The Tiger Den has already sent several young workers out into the community, and plans to continue doing so.

“The Tiger Den provides the FLS students with a multitude of opportunities every day to work on important skills and it provides valuable vocational training as they work in the coffee shop,” said The Intelligencer.

Everything Mrs. Converse has done for her students has not gone unnoticed. Teacher of the Year is a state-wide recognition; however it starts at the local level.

“We go through a process to identify teachers and other employees for some of the good they’ve done,” said Dr. Cramsey. “From there, the faculty vote and we narrow it down to a district winner.”

Next, the district winners are compared at the state level. Mrs. Converse was selected out of a large number of districts, and named one of 10 nominees.

“I think it’s important to recognize the good work that’s happening in our schools. Mrs Converse is certainly deserving of this type of award,” Dr. Cramsey said.