Southwest Dubois schools honor Hopf, Sickbert as top teachers

Southwest Dubois County School Corporation used its second annual Teacher of the Year awards to spotlight two educators whose work is visible well beyond a classroom door.

Nicole Hopf of Southridge High School was named Secondary Teacher of the Year, and Lindsey Sickbert of Holland Elementary School was selected as Elementary Teacher of the Year. Each honoree received a $500 award from Freedom Bank, continuing the partnership that helped launch the program in 2025.

The district created the honor to recognize teachers whose work strengthens student learning, academic growth and school culture across Southwest Dubois, which serves more than 2,062 students in four school buildings and reports a 96% graduation rate. By keeping the awards in only their second year, the corporation is trying to make teacher recognition a regular part of how it signals the practices it values in Dubois County classrooms.

Hopf stood out for more than consistency and passion at Southridge. Her work includes introducing a Geometry and Construction course, taking on leadership roles and organizing early-morning study sessions to help students prepare for the SAT. That kind of extra instruction gives Southridge students direct support beyond the normal school day and shows the district is looking for teachers who expand opportunity, not just deliver lessons.

Sickbert was recognized at Holland Elementary, where she serves as the school’s math teacher. Holland enrolls 252 students from preschool through fifth grade, and district leaders pointed to the way Sickbert uses student data to guide instruction, supports colleagues and stays involved in school events and leadership teams. In a building where early math skills matter, that approach puts classroom decisions on the record and gives younger students a steadier path toward later success.

The honor follows the district’s inaugural 2025 awards, when Kyle Baseden was named Secondary Teacher of the Year and Lindsey Riehle was named Elementary Teacher of the Year. The district said those first winners were recognized for inspiring students across different backgrounds and learning abilities and for helping drive academic progress.

This year’s selections send the same message from Huntingburg to Holland and Southridge: Southwest Dubois wants its teacher recognition tied to what parents can see in daily practice, from added SAT help to data-driven math instruction. The district’s central office is at 105 West Sunset Drive in Huntingburg, where the new tradition is being built one year at a time.