DALEVILLE, IN — On the 120th day of school, the first-graders in Maleah Parrish’s classroom are on a mission.
Armed with invisible ink pens and yarn laser beams, they follow clues at a series of stations incorporating STEM, language arts, social skills and teamwork to rescue Zero the Hero. It’s lively. It’s a little chaotic. And it’s exactly the kind of day Parrish hopes her students remember for years to come.
This kind of creative, purposeful, hands-on learning is what makes Parrish’s classroom such a special place and is one of many reasons she has been selected as this year’s winner of the “Excellence in Teaching Award” from Ball Brothers Foundation.
Now in its 12th year, the annual award — which includes grant money for the winner’s district ($5,000), school ($5,000), classroom ($5,000), and professional development ($2,500) — is presented to one Delaware County teacher who inspires both students and colleagues alike.
Parrish, a first-grade teacher at Daleville Elementary School, has spent 13 years creating a classroom where even the youngest learners are practicing the skills they’ll need to thrive far beyond first grade.
Every day in her classroom begins with a morning meeting, where students greet one another by name and make eye contact, helping them build confidence, empathy and communication skills. A thoughtful daily question gets them talking about real-life social situations, listening closely and thinking critically together.
Throughout the day, Parrish builds on that foundation with a balanced approach to teaching — combining research-based instruction, hands-on activities, and the use of technology. Whether students are working with STEM building materials during morning tubs or digging into animal research projects using leveled books and Google Docs, every activity is designed to be both academically challenging and developmentally appropriate.
Her reading instruction follows the Science of Reading, incorporating phonics, manipulatives, movement, and small-group games that make learning fun and multi-sensory.
But learning in Parrish’s classroom doesn’t stop at the door. She regularly takes her class outside to explore the school’s Outdoor Learning Lab. This gives Parrish the chance to reinforce concepts learned in the classroom by giving students the opportunity to engage with the content in a new setting. She believes the natural world is a powerful tool for deepening learning and keeping students engaged.
“Teaching and learning goes beyond academics. It’s about developing character — helping students build resilience, responsibility, and respect for themselves and others,” she said. “At the first-grade level, it’s essential to keep the learning process fun and engaging to ignite curiosity and a love of learning early on.”
Parrish plans to use a portion of the money from the award to attend training in Kagan Structures, a professional development program focused on creating cooperative learning environments.
“Maleah Parrish exemplifies what this award is all about, creative instruction, a deep commitment to continually refining her teaching practices, and an innovative mindset about preparing students with 21st century skills,” said Jud Fisher, president and CEO of Ball Brothers Foundation. “She’s the kind of teacher who makes a lifelong impact on students inside and outside of the classroom.”
In addition to Parrish, Ball Brothers Foundation recognized Sarah Hofmann, a math teacher at Muncie Central High School, and Danielle Phelps, a K-8 visual arts teacher at Burris Laboratory School, as finalists for the award.
As finalists, Phelps and Hofmann each received a grant of $1,000 to be used in their classrooms and $1,000 for professional development.
This year’s award finalists and winner were honored at a reception on May 1 at Minnetrista, which was attended by principals, superintendents and teachers from across Delaware County.
The judging panel for this year’s selection of the Excellence in Teaching Award winner and finalists included several community members and experienced educators.
To learn more about Ball Brothers Foundation’s Excellence in Teaching Award, including eligibility requirements and previous years’ winners, visit ballfdn.org/excellence-in-teaching-award.
This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Daleville teacher honored with Ball Brothers Foundation’s ‘Excellence in Teaching’ award
Reporting by Ball Brothers Foundation / Muncie Star Press
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