Noblesville East Middle School teacher Derek Ruble has been named one of the top three teachers in the state by the Indiana Dept. of Education as part of its 2019 Teacher of the Year program.
Ruble, an eighth-grade social studies teacher, was named Noblesville Schools’ overall Teacher of the Year for 2018. He then progressed through multiple levels of an IDOE selection process to land a top-three spot. As a top-three finalist, Ruble will be recognized at a state awards banquet and tapped to advise others on state education issues.
“Derek is an excellent example of the high-quality teachers we have in Noblesville, and we’re proud that his accomplishments have been recognized in this way,” Noblesville Schools Supt. Beth Niedermeyer said. “Educators are humble by nature, but it’s so important to highlight and honor the challenging and important work they do.”
Ruble is known for embracing innovative “gamified” practices to make his classroom and curriculum more engaging. He is actively involved in the student trip to Washington, D.C., coaching track, sponsoring a video game club and has launched a civics and debate organization at NEMS.
For more than 60 years, IDOE has conducted the Teacher of the Year program to recognize classroom teachers from across the state. Finalists are chosen from a pool of applicants. The screening and selection committee is made up of former recipients, IDOE staff, educational organization leaders, business and community leaders and representatives from higher education.
For more, visit doe.in.gov/toy.
