School: Glenwood Park Elementary School, Fort Wayne Community Schools

Grade/subject teaching: Fifth

Education: Bachelor’s degree in supervision from Purdue University; bachelor’s degree in education from Indiana University; master’s degree in education from Indiana Wesleyan University

Years teaching: 16

City born and raised: Fort Wayne

Family: Married with four adult children: one son, one daughter in heaven and two stepdaughters

Last book read: I always try to read about 10 of the children’s books over the summer for a class we call Literature Circles. My favorite from last summer was “A Coal Miner’s Bride: the Diary of Anetka Kaminska.” It is a story of a Polish family escaping from the Russian politics of the late 1800s. The family finds their way to the United States to work in the coal mines.

Favorite teacher: My father, Daniel Boylan, at South Side High School

Favorite class in school: Mrs. Stein’s social problems class at Fairfield Junior High

Favorite teaching memory: Every year when the fifth-graders are getting ready to move onto middle school, we have a promotion ceremony. Before that, we reflect on their entire elementary school years. The students have so many wonderful memories they tell about former grades and teachers. I enjoy going back to those teachers and telling them what an impact they had on the children.

What makes fifth-graders unique from other students: Fifth-graders are wonderful because they are beginning to see the big world around them, and they are starting to wonder what their place will be. They also have a great sense of humor and get my corny jokes!

Nominated by: Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Miller, grandparents

Reason for nomination: Mrs. Sarah Gore teaches with the “loving” firmness of a mom, walking that fine line of being the teacher that challenges, demands respect but lets the students know she is there for them and that she cares.