After studying philosophy and urban studies, Brian Cheek says he started his midlife crisis early and decided he wanted to be a math teacher.
That apparently was a wise decision, because Centerville-Abington Community Schools honored Cheek as its Teacher of the Year at its May 23 meeting.
Cheek teaches seventh grade math at Centerville Junior High. He also served as Centerville Senior High School’s assistant band director from 2003 to 2021.
He also has been a limited term lecturer for Purdue Polytechnic Richmond, teaching precalculus and calculus.
Cheek, who was born in Chicago, moved to Indiana at age 2. He grew up near Rose Hamilton Elementary and graduated from CSHS in 1987 before earning his bachelor’s degree at Northwestern University.
After deciding to teach, he earned another bachelor’s in mathematics and education at IU East, eventually followed by a master’s from Nova Southeastern University.
From 1991-1996, Cheek was director of youth ministries at Christ Presbyterian Church in Richmond before transitioning to public education. He taught math at Northeastern High School from 1997 to 2001.
Cheek joined CSHS as a math teacher in 2001 and eventually moved to CJHS.
He and his wife, Twana, raised two CSHS alumni.
Stop-arm cameras
Since cameras were installed on some CACS buses on Feb. 1, drivers reported 76 violations.
Assistant Superintendent Sean Stevenson eliminated some reports based on blurry plate numbers, the car already passing the bus when the stop arm was activated or other reasons. He submitted 35 to school resource officer Josh Millsaps. From those, Millsaps wrote 10 tickets.
CACS plans to add a second officer next year, and Millsaps told Stevenson that camera enforcement would become a higher priority.
Approvals
The board approved several items, including:
Communities in Schools: Superintendent Mike McCoy said the agreement is similar to last year’s. CACS is saving some money by using Lilly grant funds for site coordinators. However, McCoy said this would be the last year for this agreement for all the schools unless more grants are found.
Curriculum materials and fees: All the district’s proposed curriculum changes were approved, plus fees for the two elementaries and junior high.
High school fees were tabled because more guidance is needed from the state about what families can be charged for. Legislators voted to reimburse schools $151.80 per student, but some high school courses would exceed that.
Other approvals: High school athletic handbook changes, a continued agreement with consultant Joetta Harris for deaf/hard of hearing students, and a $250 donation from Phil and Cathy Stevenson for elementary teacher appreciation, student rewards, field trips and character education parties.
Other business
- Most Wayne County school districts had a company compare their employee benefits and compensation. Stevenson said Centerville learned it competes highly with local schools in these areas.
- Board President Todd Duke congratulated McCoy for graduating from the Superintendent EPIC course.
- McCoy received the district’s positive Cognia Accreditation Engagement Review, which will be discussed soon. The board meets at 7 p.m. June 14 in the administration building.
A version of this article appeared in the June 7 2023 print edition of the Western Wayne News.