Folger Award

Edna V. Folger Outstanding Teacher Award.

Congratulations to Jim Pfaffenberger of Columbus North High School, recipient of the 2025 Edna V. Folger Outstanding Teacher Award!

This annual award is designed to raise awareness about the immeasurable influence educators have on their students, and to recognize the image of educators as important community role models. SIHO Insurance Services, the Community Education Coalition, and the IU Columbus Center for Teaching and Learning sponsor the award. 

Any full-time elementary or secondary school teacher or educator working in a public, private, or parochial school in Bartholomew County is eligible to receive the award. Classroom, special education, or specials teachers; certified educators; counselors; and administrators are all eligible.

Nomination instructions are available from the IU Columbus Center for Teaching and Learning, the Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation Administrative Offices, and in the main office of schools throughout Bartholomew County. Nomination forms may be downloaded HERE. Any individual or group may nominate a classroom teacher or educator to receive this award. Nominations should include biographical information, reasons for nomination, letters of recommendation and support materials. 

For more information, contact Marsha VanNahmen at 812-375-7576 or mvannahm@iu.edu

About the Award

Edna Folger set the early standard for teachers. In her honor, Arvin Foundation originally established the award, which was designed to raise awareness about the immeasurable influence teachers have on their students and to recognize the image of teachers as important community role models.

Sponsored by SIHO Insurance Services, the Community Education Coalition, and the IU Columbus Center for Teaching and Learning, the award includes a stipend and a personal award from the Center for Teaching and Learning. The recipient’s name will be added to a permanent plaque located in the Columbus Learning Center. Any full-time, elementary, or secondary teacher or educator working in a Bartholomew County public, private, or parochial school is eligible to receive the annual award. Classroom, special education, or specials teachers; certified educators; counselors; and administrators are all eligible.

For more information about the Edna Folger Outstanding Teacher Award, contact Marsha VanNahmen at the IU Columbus Center for Teaching and Learning via email at mvannahm@iu.edu or by phone: 812-375-7576.