Bexley, OH, April 10, 2015 ”“ The Bexley Education Foundation (BEF) is pleased to announce that Julie Horger, Chair of the English Department at Bexley High School, has been selected to receive the 2015 Bexley Educator of the Year Award. This award is presented annually to a Bexley educator whose leadership, dedication, extraordinary achievements and commitment to the classroom and the community have made a difference in children’s lives. Sponsored annually by the Bexley Education Foundation, the award is funded by the Glick Family Endowment for the BEF at the Columbus Jewish Foundation.
Ms. Horger, who teaches English and Journalism and is the faculty advisor for the student newspaper, The Torch, was surprised today in her classroom at Bexley High School when parents, staff, alumni and BEF board members arrived to announce the award in the presence of her students. On April 28, Ms. Horger will be recognized publicly and presented with a $1,000 cash award and a commemorative crystal apple at the Bexley Education Appreciation Banquet at Capital University.
In nominating Ms. Horger for the award, current and former students, parents, and colleagues described her as a challenging, energetic and passionate educator, a collaborative and generous colleague, and a thoughtful mentor whose lessons have a lasting impact on students and peers. “Throughout college and even law school,” wrote one former student, “with every writing assignment and book I read, I could hear Horger in the back of my mind, challenging me to think critically and be thorough in my analysis and execution.”
In her capacity as an English teacher, she was described as capable of inspiring students with humor, knowledge and a passion for the written word. “She’s just as comfortable quoting William Carlos Williams as she is quoting Jay-Z,” wrote one former student. “Her passion for the content and the energy she shares with her students is contagious,” wrote another.
In her capacity as the advisor for the Torch, the Bexley High School newspaper, Ms. Horger has overseen the production of a publication that consistently wins statewide and national awards. In 2014, the Torch was one of three high school newspapers named an “All-Ohio” publication by the Ohio Scholastic Media Association, and 31 members of the Torch staff won a total of 69 individual awards for writing, photography, artwork, graphics and design.
Students credit Ms. Horger with helping them learn both the ideals and the craft of journalism–and with allowing them to make their own decisions, treating their work on the student paper as a job. Many have gone on to careers in journalism. “What I think is most impressive is the leadership development that she fosters among her editors,” wrote a colleague. “She imbues them with her trust, a strong sense of responsibility, and excellent content training, and they reward her with one of the state’s best high school newspapers.”
Ms. Horger received her B.S. degree from Bowling Green State University in 1996, and began teaching in Bexley the same year. Throughout high school and college she worked as an editorial assistant at The Mirror newspaper in Maumee, OH. She earned her her M.A. from The Ohio State University in 2003. In the summers of 2012 and 2013, she taught and studied in Kashiwa, Japan, sharing methods of teaching critical thinking skills that have been effective in Bexley classrooms.
The selection committee for this year’s Educator of the Year Award was chaired by BEF Board member Victoria Powers and included members of the BEF Board of Governors and representatives from the Bexley Board of Education, Capital University and the community at large. Past recipients of the Educator of the Year award include Marge Galloway, Jeff Schneider, Jim Tatman, Karen Haylor, Donna Taylor, Ken Steward, Scott Logsdon, Carole Ennis, Eric Acton, Terry Black, Molly McCarrick, Sonja Hutchison, Rose Blanchard, Lisa Viney, Linda Kelley, Amy Johnston Blosser, Amy Dunn and Michael Featherstone.
The Bexley Education Foundation (BEF) operates on the belief that excellent public schools are essential to the economic and social health of the communities they serve. To that end, the BEF supports educational initiatives that enhance quality education for students in the Bexley City Schools. For more information on the Bexley Education Foundation, contact the BEF office at (614) 338-2093 or visit the BEF website: www.bexleyeducationfoundation.org. “Like” the Bexley Education Foundation on Facebook for frequent updates on the Foundation’s activities.