Chemistry teacher Jennie Bonitz has received Shippensburg University’s Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award.

The award program is directed by the Shippensburg University Superintendent Study Council. The council is led by Wendy Kubasko and Travis Waters, who work together to award teachers and celebrate their strengths.

“The award was developed to highlight the incredible work teachers are doing every day,” Kubasko said. “Teachers are unsung heroes, and this is a wonderful opportunity to shine a light on their impact in their schools and communities.”

The council looks for a variety of attributes in nominees, including a passion for teaching, a strong impact on others, and continued growth. Susquehannock Principal James Sterner sent a nomination that Kubasko and Travis found exceptionally strong in the spring of last school year.

“Mrs. Bonitz’s work with curriculum development for the STEELS standards, mentoring teachers, and excellent teaching practices show her dedication to the field,” Kubasko said. “She is making an impact even beyond her classroom.”

Jennie Bonitz only found out that she had received the award shortly before it was announced to the district.

“Dr. Sterner told me that he was nominating me for the award in the spring,” Jennie Bonitz said. “I didn’t find out that I had received it until probably about a week ago, maybe right before… it was announced throughout the district. So, not much longer than anyone else.”

Jennie Bonitz’s husband, Assistant Principal Tim Bonitz, recalls his wife’s excitement upon receiving the news.

“She was very excited,” Tim Bonitz said. “She does not really need or crave recognition, but I think being recognized for all of her hard work, all of her many years here at Susquehannock, all the time she’s poured into her profession and her students, it was really special for her.”

The excitement Jennie Bonitz felt stems from the teachers in her life, including those she works with now, those that taught before her, and even the teachers she had as a student.

“The teachers are amazing, so for me to be selected really means a lot to me,” Jennie Bonitz said. “There’s no way I would be receiving this award if it weren’t for all the other teachers around me. I have learned so much from teachers before me, teachers that have retired… [and] teachers I am currently working with. I just have to mention that. I would not be able to do this just by myself. This is not a by-yourself job.”

Along with her fellow staff members, Jennie Bonitz cites inspiration within her own chemistry teacher at Susquehannock, who motivated Bonitz to become a chemistry teacher herself.

“My high school chemistry teacher, Mr. Lease, I knew that he had received this award at some point…” Jennie Bonitz said. “He inspired me to become a chemistry teacher. Knowing that he had won the award, and now thinking that like I’m maybe in the same place that he once was is really kind of crazy because like I always looked up to him. I have always wanted to have an impact on my students the way that he had an impact on me.”

Senior Julia Saidel, who took Jennie Bonitz’s Foundations of Chemistry course in her freshman year, is appreciative of the bond Jennie Bonitz works to have with her students.

“She always believed in me and still does all these years later even with not having me as a student since Freshman year,” Saidel said. “We were able to hold our bond and talk which is so special to me having someone like her be a role model in my life.”

As an administrator, Tim Bonitz is glad to see a teacher at Susquehannock receiving recognition for the work they do, especially when it does not come frequently.

“Any time, whether it be the school, the district, or an individual, it is always great to see someone performing at a high level in our district,” Tim Bonitz said. “…Most professions are probably very thankless jobs… To be able to recognize effort, I think it’s wonderful. All of our teachers should be thanked. Everyone in our building should be thanked.”

From a spousal perspective, Tim Bonitz is joyous to see his wife receive an award for the effort she puts into her classroom.

“Mrs. Bonitz isn’t really in education for the ‘thank-you’s and the recognition, but she is extremely passionate about what she does,” Tim Bonitz said. “That’s not just necessarily chemistry; if you spoke to her, which you probably have, the ability to have impact and positive influence on her students to help prepare them for life right now and then also help build upon and prepare them for outside of high school is extremely important to her.”

While Jennie Bonitz is greatly appreciative of the award, she will continue to focus on improving her teaching and overall work at the high school.

“I’m always trying to get better, always trying to figure out how I can be a better teacher for my students,” Jennie Bonitz said. “While it’s nice to be recognized, and it’s nice to be honored, I’m going to keep doing what I’ve been doing and what I’ve been doing is trying to never settle and just trying to be better.”