Teacher of year credits Algonquin education

Math teacher Daniel Kuznik credits an Algonquin education with putting him on the road to success.

Kuznik, recently named 2008 Indiana Teacher of the Year, said Algonquin teachers "kept me motivated and interested with so much one-to-one contact. They really inspired me to want to do the same type of thing."

Kuznik graduated from St. John's Evangelical Lutheran School in Algonquin in 1993 and from Jacobs High School in Algonquin in 1997. He received a bachelor's degree in math from Valparaiso University in Indiana and a master's degree in curriculum and instruction at Indiana Wesleyan University.

As a math teacher at Pike High School in Indianapolis, Kuznik leads Freshman Mentors, a group of upperclassmen who help freshman transition into high school.

An Indiana Department of Education committee comprised of department personnel and external community and education leaders selected Kuznik after interviewing 10 finalists last month. Kuznik was chosen from an initial pool of 53 public and nonpublic educators nominated by local superintendents across the state.

As the winner, Kuznik will receive a technology package valued at approximately $5,000 from the SMARTer Kids Foundation, $1,000 from Indiana Farm Bureau and scholarship opportunities from Ball State University, Indiana State University and Indiana University. In addition, he will have the option to become a Teacher in Residence for one year with the Indiana Department of Education.

"This is really an honor not just for myself but for all of the teachers in our district," Kuznik said.