From joining the Marine Corps, working at a steel mill, starting his own videography business, and live streaming city meetings for the City of Portage, Zernul “Z” Shackelford Jr. has been on a journey of pursuing his dreams. Growing up on the...

Jill Redmon, the district coordinator of Media Services for Portage Township Schools (PTS) embarked on a journey from teacher to media specialist. She contributes her professional journey to her unwavering love of education.  Early in Redmon’s...

For Portage High School Senior Olivia Pierce, it has been a humbling experience to receive the Lilly Endowment Community Scholarship for Porter County in 2024.  “I'm so deeply honored and humbled to be part of this wonderful organization and...

For 24 years, Tim and Marcella Haupt have been teachers and coaches at Willowcreek Middle School in Portage, Indiana. The couple met through mutual friends while attending Ball State University. Now, they are working at the same school with each...

Michael “Mike” Sopko has been the principal of Kyle Elementary School for 10 years now, and his mind is continuously racing to find ways to make positive impacts on the lives of children and families in the community. When Sopko is not fueling...

There are so many amazing educators and workers at every school in Northwest Indiana. One position some may not have known about is the Dean of Students position at Willowcreek Middle School, a position Joshua ‘Josh’ Wissing is proud to call his...

Bill Kresal has become well-known around his community for his thoughtful heart and willingness to give back. Kresal has received a little help from his side-kick, his dog Billie, along the way.  “There's so much to be said about what Billie can...

Doug Johnson is the assistant principal and athletic director at Willowcreek Middle School. Johnson jokes he moved to Northwest Indiana temporarily in 1997 when he started teaching geography and history and coaching hockey, golf, and baseball at Lake...

Whether she’s in the classroom or out in the stables, Debra “Deb” Ekdahl has always had a strong passion for helping others. The eighth grade Willowcreek Middle School English teacher has found a unique way to inspire her students both in and...

Kailey Brauer is an eighth-grade science teacher at Fegley Middle School. Brauer has been around the area for a while now, but no matter where she has taught, her heart belongs to Fegley it seems.  “I was at Fegley for a year in 2021. I left and...