The HSE High School National Champion Mock Trial Team and Teacher of the Year Mara Kussy were honored at last Wednesday’s Hamilton Southeastern (HSE) School Board Meeting.

Six members of the Mock Trial Team explained how the competition works, with some of the team playing roles as trial witnesses and other performing in the role of defense or prosecution attorneys.  The national competition was held in Chicago during this summer.  The team’s coach is HSE High School teacher Janet Chandler.

Some members of the team have graduated from HSE and are pursuing their college careers.  The entire national championship team includes:

 

Maria Kussy is among the 30 finalists as Indiana State Teacher of the Year, and talked with the board members about her work, as she is the Teacher of the Year for the HSE School District for the current school year.  She is a Brooks School Elementary media specialist.  Mrs. Kussy was selected from 23 finalists.

The other finalists were:

Todd Niswander, Cumberland Road Elementary

Abby Back, Durbin Elementary

Jean Doss, Fall Creek Elementary

Sara Larkins, Fishers Elementary

Lacy Rose, Geist Elementary

Kristen Morgan, Harrison Parkway Elementary

Katie Norton, Hoosier Road Elementary

Anita Harrison, Lantern Road Elementary

Tanya Cooper, New Britton Elementary

Tiffany Zaleski, Sand Creek Elementary

Jackie Renick, Thorpe Creek Elementary

Seth Zook, Fall Creek Intermediate

Hollie Vessels, Riverside Intermediate

Kirsten Toner, Sand Creek Intermediate

Jen Hill, Hamilton Southeastern Intermediate / Jr. High

Brandon Spidel, Fall Creek Jr. High

Alison Strole, Fishers Jr. High

Will Rogers, Riverside Jr. High

Amanda Howard, Fishers High School

Jennifer Pope, Fishers High School

Josh Gish, Hamilton Southeastern High School

Becky Schroeder, Hamilton Southeastern High School