By Amanda Foust
Zionsville Community High School Spanish teacher Lindsay Alessandrini is among 10 finalists vying for the Indiana Teacher of the Year honor.
Alessandrini has been working at ZCHS for 16 years since graduating from Indiana University. She was named the ZCS Teacher of the Year in May, making her eligible for the statewide title.
“This is such a special honor for me. When I was first honored through my high school it surprised me and caught me off guard,” Alessandrini said. “I’m a classroom teacher just doing the best I can do each day for my students, so this has just been the icing on the cake.”
Project based learning is one of Alessandrini’s teaching strategies. Her projects and cultural focus is not limited to her classroom. She has partnered with Heart in Education Teacher Outreach and served in Honduras every other summer, four times total.
“Mrs. Alessandrini has provided our students with valuable international exposure and experience opportunities,” ZCHS principal Tim East said. “These types of value added experiences contribute to the success of our students and has contributed to Zionsville Community Schools frequent recognition as one of the nation’s top performing school districts.”
Many students spoke highly of Alessandrini’s impact on their lives.
“Not only is Ms. Alessandrini a great teacher, but she is also dedicated to expanding her students’ global awareness,” said Nora Deeg, who graduated in 2006. “She doesn’t just teach language in isolation.”
“She is one of the most passionate teachers I have ever seen, and a teacher that I know truly cared about me as a person,” said Abbey Roberts, a 2015 graduate.
The 2016 Indiana Teacher of the Year will be announced in October by the Indiana Department of Education.
