Heritage Fund Announces 2024 Recipient of the Hanley Teaching Award

Columbus Indiana — CSA Lincoln Elementary School Book Buddies coordinator Emma Jensen is the recipient of the 2024 Bill and Sally Hanley Excellence in Teaching Award administered by Heritage Fund. Established in 2000, the award recognizes outstanding elementary teachers in the Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. and comes with a $1,000 stipend. Recipients are nominated by their principals and must demonstrate dedication to their job, exemplary initiative, and contributions to improve the school and its environment.

Jensen was credited with playing an integral role in the success of the school’s IREAD-3 state assessment pass rate, which ranks CSA Lincoln at the top ofboth school district and state levels. Jensen also was praised for her dedication to the Book Buddies program and continually finding a way to ensure no student was turned away for lack of support, even when volunteer numbers declined during the COVID-19 pandemic. Today’s full roster of volunteers that includes retired community members, BCSC district administrators, parents and local business workers is a testament to Jensen’s leadership abilities and why many return to the program each year.

“Mrs. Jensen embodies what it means to be a CSA Lincoln Husky, where going above and beyond for our students isn’t the exception; it’s the expectation.” Principal Brett Findley wrote in his nomination.