An English teacher at Salem Community High School has been named the school’s Academic Foundation Teacher of the Year.
Superintendent Dr. Brad Detering announced Matt Donoho had won the annual award at the close of school breakfast on Wednesday. Detering said Donoho was very passionate about teaching in his subject area and in his work with the student council.
“He went so far as to write a grant so that homerooms can have Nintendo Switches so that there is a Nintendo gaming tournament,” Detering said. “There is a volleyball tournament, and we have students in our classrooms that maybe don’t get into team sports, but all of a sudden having a Mario Kart tournament is something that certainly touches them.”
Donoho was left speechless when accepting the award. He later summed up his feelings.
“If the governments of the world gave me the Best Teacher in the World award, it wouldn’t mean as much to me as getting Teacher of the Year from Salem Community High School,” he said.
Donoho was also honored for growing the Student Council sponsored Homecoming Celebration and blood drive and creating the Senior Sunset event.
“I’ve worked with Student Council for ten years, but the success of things like that is just because I have great Student Council members. We have great students here. We have great staff. That’s why I’m proud to work here.”
As teacher of the year, Donoho will receive $500 from the Academic Foundation for use in his classroom and $250 cash for himself from the teacher’s association. He’ll also be added to the wall of honor for past teachers of the year.