Introduced Version
SENATE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION No. _____
DIGEST OF INTRODUCED RESOLUTION
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION honoring 2024 Rural Teacher of
the Year Jodie Elkins.
MESSMER
, read first time and referred to Committee on
2024 RC 1524/DI JC Introduced
Second Regular Session 123rd General Assembly (2024)
SENATE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION No. _____
1 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION honoring 2024 Rural
2 Teacher of the Year Jodie Elkins.
3 Whereas, Each year the Indiana Small and Rural Schools
4 Association, with sponsorship from Indiana Farm Bureau,
5 honors one Indiana educator with the Rural Teacher of the
6 Year Award;
7 Whereas, The Indiana Rural Teacher of the Year Award is
8 given to a current teacher who collaborates with the rural
9 community to provide lifelong learning opportunities, leads in
10 the educational community, and leaves a lasting impact on her
11 students;
12 Whereas, Jodie Elkins is a graduate of Pike Central High
13 School ("PCHS") in Petersburg, Indiana, who returned to her
14 beloved high school to teach after earning education degrees
15 from Hanover College and the University of Evansville and has
16 remained a vital member of the school and local communities
17 for over 40 years;
18 Whereas, In 2006, PCHS was selected as one of 45 schools
19 in the country to be a field test site for Project Lead the Way's
20 Biomedical Sciences program, with Ms. Elkins at the forefront;
21 Whereas, Under Ms. Elkins' leadership, the Biomedical
22 Sciences program at PCHS has grown steadily, being
23 recognized as a model program in 2012, garnering PCHS
24 recognition as a Project Lead the Way Distinguished School,
25 and including in its ranks as much as 40% of the PCHS student
2024 RC 1524/DI JC 2
1 body at a time, many of whom have gone on to careers as
2 emergency medical technicians, certified nursing assistants,
3 and physicians;
4 Whereas, Ms. Elkins leads in her community through her
5 service on the City of Petersburg Planning Commission and
6 Parks and Recreation Board, the steering committees for the
7 Buffalo Trace Festival and Discover Downtown Petersburg, the
8 Prides Creek Golf Course Board of Directors, the Dubois-Pike
9 Federal Credit Union Supervisory Committee, and the Pike
10 County Advisory Council to Memorial Hospital and Health
11 Care Center in Jasper;
12 Whereas, With an estimated 90% of PCHS students
13 expected to take at least one class with her, Ms. Elkins has left
14 an indelible impact on her students, regularly going above and
15 beyond what is required of any teacher and supporting her
16 students wherever and whenever they need, whether at ball
17 games, band performances, academic competitions, theater
18 productions, religious confirmations, graduations, weddings,
19 baby showers, or funerals;
20 Whereas, Her impact on her students is best summarized by
21 one student who, after Ms. Elkins helped her through a difficult
22 personal problem, tearfully remarked, "I just love her so much,
23 and I don't know what any of us would do without her here";
24 and
25 Whereas, In recognition of her many contributions to her
26 students, school, and community, Ms. Elkins was named the
27 2024 Indiana Rural Teacher of the Year and represented
28 Indiana in the National Rural Teacher of the Year program:
29 Therefore,
30 Be it resolved by the Senate of the General Assembly
31 of the State of Indiana, the House of Representatives
32 concurring:
33 SECTION 1. That the Indiana General Assembly honors
34 2024 Rural Teacher of the Year Jodie Elkins and commends her
2024 RC 1524/DI JC 3
1 for her work in advancing the aims of rural education and
2 positively impacting the lives of her students.
3 SECTION 2. The Secretary of the Senate is hereby directed
4 to transmit copies of this Resolution to Jodie Elkins, Pike
5 Central High School, and Indiana Farm Bureau.
2024 RC 1524/DI JC