The Tippecanoe Valley School Corporation board of trustees honored at the Nov. 13th board meeting three staff members for their hard work and dedication to the school corporation.
June Yazel, a Tippecanoe Valley High School instructor, received a World Class Teacher Award. Audrey Summe, a paraprofessional at Tippecanoe Valley Middle School, and Dawn Rowland-Norris, the former administration office secretary, both received a Pillar Award for Outstanding Support Staff.
JUNE YAZEL 
June Yazel enjoys seeing her students progress and get excited about learning.
“I think Tippecanoe Valley has a lot of great offerings for the kids and I’m proud to be part of it,” she said.
The TVHS instructor came to Tippecanoe Valley in 1990 and has been chosen to receive the World Class Teacher Award. June currently teaches Political & Economic Studies, along with two English 12 classes, and Driver’s Ed. She has also taken on several roles outside of the classroom by coaching divers on the high school swim team, serving as vice president of the teachers’ union, and managing the high school’s Facebook page. June helps coach the academic team and also helps operate T’s Boutique, a donation-based “store” inside the school that lets students borrow dress clothes for special occasions.
The Muncie, Indiana native says education at Tippecanoe Valley is more personal than the larger school she attended in her hometown. She says she appreciates the teachers for being so caring and making opportunities available to the students.
“The administrators also allow us to step outside of the curriculum to make it real for the kids. We don’t always have to follow a textbook. We can really tailor our learning to what the kids need and want to know.”
June loves keeping up with students after they graduate. Some of them contact her to look over college papers or for recommendations.
“To see what they’ve become is always fun. Some have been recognized as Distinguished Alumni, which makes me feel good,” she said.
June is married to Mentone Fire Chief Mike Yazel and have two children together. Ethan, who works in animation, and Isabelle who is a nurse in Hawaii.
AUDREY SUMME 
Audrey Summe says as long as she can remember, she has always wanted to work with kids.
The Tippecanoe Valley Middle School paraprofessional calls it an honor to receive a Pillar Award for Outstanding Support Staff. Audrey has been working at TVMS for 14 years and currently assists eighth grade students and teachers with their coursework and lesson plans.
“I could be having a horrible morning, come in here, and it just perks me up. It reminds me this is why I do what I do,” she said.
Audrey loves working with middle school students because they still have a youthful side, but are also starting to mature into young adults. She also enjoys keeping up with her former students after they graduate.
“You sometimes wonder about the kids you’ve taught and how they’re going to do in life. It’s just amazing to see when they go on and do great things.”
Audrey also stays active in the community. She donates blood, has served on the Jack and Jill Preschool board, contributes to the United Way, and helps with school fundraisers.
DAWN ROWLAND-NORRIS 
Dawn Rowland-Norris says it’s the people she’ll miss the most working as the secretary at Tippecanoe Valley School Corporation’s administration office.
“I always got to meet the new employees,” she said. “They would always come to the central office at some point.”
Dawn retired in late September after nearly two decades on the job and has been chosen to receive a Pillar Award for Outstanding Support Staff. She started working for Tippecanoe Valley in 1990 after her position with United Telephone Company was moved to Ohio.
Dawn grew up in the Silver Lake area, attended Akron Elementary School, and graduated from TVHS, but never thought she would end up working for the school corporation from which she graduated.
“The job was never dull. It was so diverse. I didn’t do the same thing every day.”
Dawn plans to spend retirement helping with her husband’s business, working on their farm, painting, and spending more time with her family. She and her husband recently got married in Hawaii in October.
