UC Honors Teacher Who Just Loves the Fifth Grade

Donald Koller of New Richmond, Ohio, says he couldn’t believe a college student would remember so much about him.

But 22-year-old Kevin Kew of Milford remembered his fifth-grade Summerside Elementary teacher’s passion for science was contagious, and as a result, Koller is one of three teachers from around the Tristate to be honored with the Cincinnati USA Outstanding Educator Award at

UC’s Commencement Ceremony, coming up at 1:30 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 9, at Fifth Third Arena at Shoemaker Center.

Koller will be presented with a $1,000 UC scholarship to present to a high school senior who plans to enter UC in the 2007-2008 academic year.

Earlier in the fall, UC President Nancy L. Zimpher invited soon-to-be graduates from around the Cincinnati USA region to nominate a former teacher from preschool through 12th grades who fueled their love for education and inspired them to continue on the path to a higher education. The honorees were selected from 21 nominations.

“Mr. Koller was the first teacher to actually treat me like an adult,” says Kew. The Milford High School graduate plans to graduate from UC’s College of Applied Science in the spring with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering technology. “He never talked down to his students, and that meant a lot to me.”

“I’ve been teaching fifth grade for 23 years because it’s at this age when you can talk to them on a higher level, but they still have that love for learning,” says Koller, who earned his bachelor’s degree from UC in elementary education. “You can joke with them and they know how to joke, and you can give them responsibility and they usually follow through.”

Kew mentioned his fascination with Mr. Koller’s classroom snake, Rocky Balboa, as well as learning the metric system with a kilometer walk around the school. But one of his fondest memories was the classroom chess tournament, with a handmade winner’s trophy created by Mr. Koller.

“Chess teaches the students many skills, and the chess tournament was a tradition we brought back just last year,” Koller says. “I like woodworking, so I made our own trophy and we set up chess brackets like the NCAA.

“A lot of children have mentioned how much they enjoy it. They love playing it at recess, so it takes away some of the discipline problems that might come up during indoor recess,” Koller says.

When asked what makes a great teacher, Kew says it’s their passion for teaching. “You can really tell when teachers do and don’t care, and it comes across in their behavior – in and out of the classroom.”

Koller says the great teachers enjoy what they’re doing and who they’re doing it with, as well as the content that they teach. “If the kids see your love for it, they’ll pick up on it. It’s like anything else. When you enjoy something so much, you want to share it with others. That’s what makes a great teacher, plus, having students like Kevin.”

Koller and Kew will see each other again before the awards are presented at the Dec. 9 commencement ceremony. They’re invited to a special brunch hosted by UC President Nancy L. Zimpher prior to the ceremony. The brunch will take place at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 9, at the UC Faculty Club.

Read more about the Cincinnati USA Outstanding Educator Award

UC Commencement Web site