Albert Bucon

Carmen Heil

Jessica Angius

Jessica Glenn

WHEELING — The Wheeling Area Chamber of Commerce is honoring three Ohio County educators as their 2020 “teachers of the year,” and also awarding a scholarship to a top student.

Teachers of the year are Albert Bucon from Central Catholic High School, Carmen Heil from Triadelphia Middle School, and Jessica Glenn from Our Lady of Peace School.

This year’s winner of a $1,000 student scholarship from the chamber is Jessica Angius from Wheeling Park High School.

Winners each year typically are honored with a luncheon by the chamber, but that won’t happen this year due to coronavirus concerns, explained Delegate Erikka Storch, R-Ohio, also president of the chamber.

The teachers of the year are scheduled to serve as grand marshals for the chamber’s annual “Main Street Bank Fantasy in Lights Christmas Parade” this November. Each also will receive a plaque and a $100 gift card for Oglebay Park.

“We are hoping we can possibly still celebrate them,” Storch said. “If we are able to recognize them as our grand marshals, that is still the plan.

“We had hoped to schedule an outdoor celebration. But with all the changes in guidelines (set forth in orders from West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice), we are just trying to do things as safely as possible.”

The chamber wants to recognize the hard work of teachers, and of those who took the time to nominate them, according to Storch.

She called the application “a time consuming process.”

“It is laborious to make sure they are portrayed as wonderfully on paper as they are when they stand before students,” Storch said.

A chamber committee evaluates the applications, and looks to see how the teachers innovate new ideas into their classrooms.

Criteria considered includes whether they know of and use new technology and approaches to education, and whether they utilize local resources to stimulate student learning.

The chamber describes their winners in the following way:

* “Mr. Bucon is a well-respected educator with over 30 years of experience. He is the chairperson for the English department and exhibits a passion and love for his content area.”

He serves on the academic council which aids in school improvement. He moderates the NHS, Student Government Association and most recently, the Chess Club. He has also coached boys and girls basketball. Last summer, Mr. Bucon published his first book, ‘My Corner of the World, Life Lessons From the Classroom.’ He also writes a blog post titled ‘Time and Space’ that gives his readers insight to his class and his students.

* “Mrs. Heil is an exceptional sixth grade English teacher with a firm and nurturing disposition. As a teacher with 30 years of experience, she specializes in teaching students that have behavioral issues and/or psychosocial needs. She truly cares about the life achievements and struggles of her students.” She has been an adviser for the Wheeling Park Patriot Yearbook for the last 25 years. She has also served on the Local School Improvement Council Committee Board, Parent-Teacher-Student Association, 100 Years Committee, Students Against Drunk Driving Club, and Faculty Senate.

* “Mrs. Glenn is an exceptional early childhood teacher. In her nine years as teacher she has proven to be organized, enthusiastic, flexible, and fun. Mrs. Glenn transforms her classroom into a hands on, project-based learning environment. She wears many hats and is a counselor, nurse, and/or cheerleader to her students as needed.”

She has served on the technology committee and Advance Ed Committee for Accreditation, as well as being a Technology Target teacher, spelling bee coordinator, school website coordinator, pre-K and kindergarten graduation ceremony organizer and planner, Kindergarten screening coordinator and planner, and Christmas show music teacher assistant.

Public service is a major factor when deciding what local student receives the chamber’s $1,000 scholarship, according to Storch.

Students must write an essay as part of their application, with the theme focusing on volunteerism.

“We are looking to students who are driven to service for community, and not just fulfilling school requirements for school requirements,” Storch said.

The chamber describes Angius “as among the top 20 achievers in Wheeling Park High School’s class of 351 students with a cumulative GPA of 4.62.”

“She is a very kind and empathetic young lady as is shown by the many ways she helps others in her community,” the chamber states. “Jessica has been able to impact children, the less fortunate, and young athletes by volunteering her time. She has been active in the following activities: Relay for Life, Night to Shine, Wheeling Park Cheer Camp, Wheeling Recreation Cheer Camp, Elementary School Reading Program, Wheeling Park Toy Drive, Wheeling Island Clean up, and REAP counselor.”

Angius aspires to be a nurse, and has been accepted into the pre-nursing program at West Virginia University, according to the chamber.