Nancy Berry
2000 Inductee

Columbia Elementary School
Principal
Logansport, Indiana
Total years in current position: 3
Total years as a classroom teacher: 23

Career Highlights

• Nancy Berry dreamed of being a teacher from the time she was a little girl. She overcame much hardship as a child and credits teachers with helping her.

• Superintendent Steven Kain in 1997 asked Nancy to accept the Columbia Elementary principal position even though she did not have her administrative certification. She accepted the job and obtained certification within a year. She keeps active in the classroom by teaching reading, creative writing, and science.

• In 1989, the Bureau of Education and Research invited her to become a presenter. She made presentations in 46 states before giving up national speaking in 1992.

• Berry has authored several educational materials and calls herself a "child advocate." One of her guiding principles is that "behavior is like a shirt; it can be changed."

• Berry instills good character lessons into her Coded Discipline, an innovative management program that promotes dignity, imagination, self-discipline, and responsibility. "It stresses that we are in charge of our learning and behavior," she explained. "It teaches and cultivates manners and values as being honest and living by the 'Golden Rule.'"

"I have often said that I am a good teacher, but Nancy is gifted. I believe that what she has is a special gift from God, and that she uses that gift wisely. She has greatly enriched my life, the lives of my own children, and the lives of hundreds of others. There are only a few teachers like Nancy, and I feel very lucky to know her." -- Carol Muehlhausen, teaching colleague

"Were I to name one person that truly emulates the art of teaching, that person would be Nancy Berry. I only wish that each boy and girl in America had the unique opportunity and blessing to have been in Mrs. Berry's class." -- William Tincher, Logansport School Board Trustee and parent of former students

"What makes Nancy so unique is that she is a living testimony to the power of teachers and their ability to change lives. And as a parent, I cannot thank her enough for helping my children to become happy, well-adjusted life-long learners. The magic, I came to learn, was not in Nancy's fon-nula for teaching. It was in Nancy herself." -- Debra Rivard, parent of two former students

"Of all the reasons that Mrs. Nancy Berry is deserving of the National Teachers Hall of Fame Award, the one that is most obvious is her tireless dedication to the profession. Mrs. Berry's day does not end with the dismissal bell; it is the beginning of the days yet to search for ways to improve and avenues to pursue in the teaching of the children in her classroom." -- Bob Barrett, Supervisor, Franklin Elementary School Principal

"Mrs. Nancy Berry is the person who has truly inspired me to become a teacher. ...I give Mrs. Berry most of the credit for my accomplishments and I hope to follow in her footsteps as an outstanding person and educator." Brett Miller, former student

Education

Teaching Experience

Honors/Awards