Hannah Baker named Fairfield Teacher of Year

FAIRFIELD — Hannah Baker had no idea when she entered the Fairfield High School Auditorium Monday morning that she would be called to the stage.

Baker teaches special education for grades 2-4 at Pence Elementary School, and she, like all teachers in the district, attended the awards ceremony Monday where the district bids farewell to its retiring teachers, and names a Teacher of the Year.

Fairfield Superintendent Laurie Noll introduced the Teacher of the Year by reading from their nominee’s letter, but she didn’t reveal the person’s identity until the end. About halfway through Noll’s comments, Baker realized Noll was talking about her.

“Nobody told me they nominated me,” Baker said. “It felt really good to receive this award. I was pretty shocked.”

The Teacher of the Year Award is a 30-year plus tradition in Fairfield Community School District. This award is sponsored by the Fairfield Manufacturers’ Association, Fairfield Economic Development Association, and the Druzilla F. Clark Foundation.

Baker grew up in Canton, Ohio, and attended Bethany College in Bethany, West Virginia. She majored in English for students in grades 5-12.

“I’ve always had a passion for literature,” she said.

Baker did her student teaching in English literature. She moved to southeast Iowa in 2010 and found a job as a teacher associate at Cardinal schools. Baker said she moved to the area because her mother, Brenda Hendrichsen, is from Fairfield.

After spending one year at Cardinal, Baker began working at Pence Elementary School in Fairfield, also as a teacher associate. During her first year in Fairfield, she met a student who changed her life, and prompted her to get into special education. She said the student was on the Autism spectrum, and was non-verbal. Baker said it was so rewarding to work with him and see him grow in the ensuing years.

Pence Elementary School’s principal at that time, Chris Welch, saw Baker’s passion for students with special needs, and encouraged her to get a special education endorsement. That’s exactly what Baker did, and has been teaching special education to grades 2-4 ever since.

Baker said the thing she likes best about her job is the challenge.

“Every day is different. It’s never stagnant,” she said. “I like bridging the gap between parents and the school, making sure we’re all on the same page.”

Baker coached the Fairfield High School girls’ swimming team for a few years until she gave birth to her daughter, Jade. Baker said she swam in college, and that’s why she wanted to get involved in the sport again in Fairfield. Baker now has two daughters, having added Emma, and she said she would consider coaching swimming again once they get older.

“Coaching is a very large commitment,” she said.

For now, Baker and her husband Gregg are content to hang out with their daughters at their backyard pool.

Call Andy Hallman at 641-575-0135 or email him at andy.hallman@southeastiowaunion.com