Life in the Spotlight

In 2013, Debra “Dis” Disney retired from teaching health and physical education at Wheeler High School. Before Disney’s retirement, though, she shared about how much teaching meant to her and how much she enjoyed her position of...

Tara O’hare is an eighth-grade English teacher at Fegeley Middle School (FMS). Originally, O’Hare had intended to go into cosmetology, but when O’Hare got the opportunity to volunteer and assist children with special needs, her heart and mind...

Jessica Cohen is a lifelong Portage resident who loves her hometown and has found her dream career in her hometown.  "After college, there was nowhere else I wanted to be other than ‘home’. Portage has always been it for me," Cohen said....

Meghan Birger is a teacher who has taught for 15 years in multiple schools amongst many experienced and inspirational teachers.  “I grew up in Mount Prospect, IL. I made my way to Indiana when I attended Valparaiso University.  My 15-year...

“Hey Adrienne, how are you doing today?” “Living the dream as always,” she said.  Adrienne Cataldo, a teacher and newspaper sponsor at Portage High School, has had a positive outlook on her life even before moving to Valparaiso...

Gracie Hansen is a Portage resident studying to become an elementary and special education teacher. She currently works at Northview Elementary School as a paraprofessional in the Applied Skills Program. “I attended Portage High School and...

Teachers, neighbors, coworkers, family members, mentors, friends, coaches. Whoever the people in your life may be, they can always use a bit of encouragement and recognition for the difference they are making in others and in their community. We were...

Portage High School teacher and Portage native Cynthia Kovach brings a joyous passion to her craft and realizes her potential in shaping the future of her students.  Earning her bachelor’s degree at Indiana University and then attending...

Phillip “Phil” Dietrich is a third-grade teacher for Portage Township Corporation, saved and set free with a wife and three kids and a passion for music. “I grew up in Hammond and have been a resident of Chesterton for the past 16...

Jewel Hernandez is a teacher of applied skills at Portage Township School Corporation, a mother of three, and a pet owner. “I am 33 years old. I have three beautiful children, Andrew 11, Henry 6, Judie 3, and three cats, Lola, Lumi, and Luna. I...