Brian Bobbitt

High School
Engineering, Robotics, and Aerospace
Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation

Brian has followed his father's advice throughout his career, "Pick something you love to do, and you will never have to work a day in your life." Brian recognizes the value of student and teacher relationships. Understanding how to motivate students and be an integral part of their educational journey has always been a high goal. He realizes all students can learn, but sometimes they might need more context and background to get started. Brian also believes in challenging every student to be the best version of themselves. He has written over $200,000 in grants to provide innovative technologies and ideas in the classrooms to help all students achieve.

Brian is a Master Teacher for Project Lead The Way and teaches engineering, robotics, and aerospace at North High School in Evansville, Indiana. As a Master Teacher for PLTW, Brian has been able to train other teachers throughout the country. He earned his MS from Murray State University in career and technical education administration. He received his BS in Kinesiology from Indiana University. In 2016, he wrote a book titled, 3D Printing Made Simple for Education. He often presents across the country in 3D printing and STEM education and has several thousand subscribers on his education related YouTube channel. Brian is also an adjunct teacher at the University of Southern Indiana and the University of Evansville in the teacher education departments.

Troy Cockrum

High School
Journalism and Media
Monroe County Community School Corporation

Troy Cockrum has been a Student Media and Journalism teacher at Bloomington High School North for 4 years. He has been teaching for 20 years and has always strived to provide an innovative and student-centered classroom. Troy spent his first 10 years teaching English before moving into a variety of other teaching roles. He has worked as a Yearbook Advisor and Technology Coach. He has taught Yearbook, Video Production, Photography, Public Speaking, Technical Theatre, Debate, and Digital Citizenship. His work has earned him awards including a Google Certified Innovator, IU Jacobs Educator, ISTE Technology in Action, and NASA Airborne Astronomy Ambassador. Troy is proud to have earned his Ed.D. in Instructional Systems Technology from Indiana University - Bloomington in 2022.

Adrienne Chyba

Grades K–5
All Subjects
Carmel Clay Schools

Adrienne Chyba leads with heart, firmly believing that nothing matters more in education than the relationships we build. With over 20 years in the field—most of them spent guiding young minds in kindergarten, first, and second grade—Adrienne brings both experience and empathy to every classroom she supports.

Adrienne holds a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Indiana University and is passionate about staying current with the Science of Reading and the latest research on how students learn to read. For the past five years, she has served as a K–5 instructional coach, where her commitment to strong relationships and evidence-based practices drives her work. In this role, she focuses on supporting teachers as they create magic for the students they love—providing guidance, encouragement, and tools to bring their instructional vision to life—and then walking alongside both teacher and child as they grow, learn, and work together to reach their fullest potential.

Melissa Heim

Grade 7
Science/Biology
Clinton Prairie School Corporation

Melissa Heim has been teaching for the past 20 years, the last 9 at Clinton Prairie Jr-Sr High School, where she constantly makes her classroom a welcoming educational sanctuary to all students. She is a firm believer that students learn best when they are actively engaged in hands-on labs that hold real-world meaning to their life. Melissa is extremely active in the school community, working with students in and out of the classroom as she also serves as the Elementary/Junior High/High School Robotics Coach, National Honor Society Advisor, Science Club Sponsor, Junior High/High School Science Academic Team Coach and Science Department Head.

Amy Norris

German
Grades 9-12
Richland Bean Blossom Community School Corporation

Amy Norris is in her 25th year of teaching at Edgewood High School in Ellettsville, where she began as a German and English teacher, but now teaches only German. She also spent one year teaching English at a Gymnasium in Germany as a Fulbright Exchange teacher. Amy’s favorite part of being the only German teacher at her school is that she gets to be a part of students’ lives as they grow and mature over the course of their high school careers. Amy knows that most of her students will not go on to become fluent speakers of German, so she strives to make her classes a place where students learn not only learn language, culture and customs of the German speaking world, but where they get to have fun, be creative and learn in ways that are different from their other classes. The most strenuous and most rewarding part of her job is leading a student exchange program with Edgewood’s sister school, the Gymnasium Georgianum Lingen. Being able to experience the wonder that travel can bring, especially to teenagers who may not have traveled much in their lives helps to keep her inspired to find ways to bring that wonder into the classroom for every student.

Tim Sokolowski

Grade 12
United States Government and Politics
Franklin Township Community School Corporation

Tim Sokolowski has taught United States Government at Franklin Central High School in Indianapolis for 12 years. A passionate advocate for strong civic education, he designs his lessons with an emphasis on active citizenship and civic engagement, with students connecting classroom content to their lives outside of school. He has designed and implemented his various civics courses, including AP, Dual Credit, and "We the People," with the goals of promoting civil discourse, honing critical thinking skills, utilizing primary sources, incorporating current events, and encouraging a growth mindset. He feels fortunate that he has the opportunity to share the content that he loves with students everyday, and he finds great joy in the moments where students are able to make connections in real time. Tim also teaches various summer courses, including US Government, Psychology, and AP Psychology, online through CIESC. Additionally, he has been a mentor teacher for the Indiana Bar Foundation since 2016, connecting with teachers from around the state and nation in order to promote and integrate the We the People curriculum. At Franklin Central, he serves as the Senior Class Sponsor, Commencement Director, We the People coach, and on various committees.