Angela Fish named AFA's state Teacher of the Year

Angela Fish, a special education instructor at Hacker Middle School in Mountain Home, has been selected as the Teacher of the Year by the Air Force Association for the state of Idaho.

She will represent the state at the national AFA competition.

Fish, 30, has been teaching for eight years, the last three in the district in which she grew up. She is the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Micheal Koelsch.

She just recently finished her master's degree in education.

In presenting her with her award, which comes with a $1,000 cash prize, AFA Snake River Valley Chapter President Roger Fogelman said Fish had been selected for nominees reviewed by the chapter because of "her energy and enthusiasm in the classroom and her dedication to her students.

"Angela maintains positive relations with the parents of her students and communicates with them often. She (also) is a great resource" for other teachers.

Her principal, Dany Herrboldt, noted she entered her profession as a science teacher, but accepted the position as special education instructor when asked to do so.

"She is very dedicated to all the students at Hacker, and truly represents all that a teacher should be," Herrboldt said, adding that every year that she has been in the district she has been named among the top ten teachers in the district by her peers.

In addition to Fish's award, the AFA chapter also presented last week the chapter's Teacher of the Year award to Bruce Bedell of Glenns Ferry. That honor came with a $350 cash award.

Both teachers will be honored by the Air Force Association at the Snake River Valley Chapter's Teacher of the Year banquet on Oct. 27 at The Gunfighter Club on base. The dinner begins with cocktails at 6 p.m. For more information, or to obtain tickets, which are $16.50 for non members and $13.50 for members of the AFA, contact Roger Fogelman a RFogleman@msn.com, or call 587-9021, or 599-4013.

The Air Force Association is an independent, nonprofit, civilian education organization promoting public understanding of aerospace power and the pivotal role it plays in the security of the nation. It sponsors professional development seminars and recognize excellences in the education and aerospace fields through national awards programs.

"Along with grants and scholarships, the Air Force Association believes that recognizing those who educate America's youth is an important aspect of what AFA is all about," Fogelman said. "AFA chapters nationwide work very hard to insure our youth receive education in math and the sciences and that those who teach and support the educators are recognized."

Fogelman added that the Snake River Valley Chapter of the Air Force Association "presents The Teacher of the Year to a teacher that demonstrates excellence in education, and in recognition of sustained, outstanding performance as an educator and unequalled dedication to ensuring that Idaho's students are prepared for aerospace technological challenges of the future."