The legacy of an educator is found within the walls of the school: the lessons that garnered inspiration, the students that they have impacted, and the mark they leave on the community itself. Utica High School (UHS) English teacher Mary Beth Kinsel’s legacy is radiant, upheld by the narrative of students and colleagues alike.
UHS’s Teacher of the Year award is a high honor for a staff member to receive. It recognizes not only their excellence in the classroom, but their ability to create strong connections, creative atmospheres, and a close community. This year, that honor belongs to Kinsel.
“Every time they announce Teacher of the Year, I never think it’s me. I’m always very excited for whoever the teacher is, I’m applauding and so on; but then, this year, they called my name,” Kinsel said. “[UHS principal Timothy] Youngblood reads a little excerpt about what the people who have nominated me said, and there were just such wonderful and positive comments from my colleagues that I was totally taken by surprise. It is such an honor for me to be even considered for Teacher of the Year.”
Kinsel cites her approach to teaching as her reason for winning. Utica has been more than a school for her; it has been a family. From incorporating creativity into her lessons to building relationships with other teachers beyond the classroom, her impact extends far past English class.
“I really try to see Utica as a family and community, not only students that are like my children, but also the faculty and staff that are like family. We’re such a close knit, wonderful group of people,” Kinsel said. “I think that teaching at Utica has been an opportunity for me to use some of my fun, artistic skills to do some amazing things with my time here.”
Alongside the celebration, there was an unexpected announcement made to the Utica community when Kinsel accepted the award. Winning Teacher of the Year coincides with the end of her multidecade career as an education. Kinsel will go on to retire from teaching this June.
“It’s a bittersweet moment that I’m Teacher of the Year because I’m retiring after this year,” Kinsel said. “It only took me 25 years to get Teacher of the Year, and it’s my last and final year of teaching. It’s a wonderful way to end a career.”
After the year ends, Kinsel plans to embark on a new journey. She aims to rekindle her own education and take on an interest she sees as another professional opportunity.
“I’m looking at doing a couple of things, maybe even going back to get some certification for healthcare. Nursing was always something that I was interested in doing. So, maybe a CNA, but also possibly doing some dispatching for different companies,” Kinsel said. “This is just a different shift in my career so that I can work from home and do some amazing things that way too. There are new opportunities on the horizon for me and I’m really excited to start a new adventure.”
Kinsel winning Teacher of the Year is her final bow away from Utica. Even though her time as a Chieftain is coming to an end, her impact on the students and staff will remain for years to come.
