HONORED — Indian Creek Middle School math teacher Cathy DiBenedetto, center, received the Coalition of Ohio Rural and Appalachian Schools’ Outstanding Middle School Teacher Award for the Indian Creek Local School District at Ohio University in Zanesville. She was joined by, from left, Ohio Department of Education Chief of Staff Jessica Voltonlini, Indian Creek School Superintendent T.C. Chappelear, ICMS Principal Holly Minch-Hick and former state Rep. John Patterson. -- Contributed

WINTERSVILLE — Indian Creek Middle School math teacher Cathy DiBenedetto’s skills in the classroom have added up to accolades through the Coalition of Ohio Rural and Appalachian Schools.

DiBenedetto received the Outstanding Middle School Teacher Award for the Indian Creek School District and was among 55 educators honored during a ceremony at Ohio University in Zanesville on Feb. 22. She was accompanied by ICMS Principal Holly Minch-Hick, who nominated her for the distinction, and Indian Creek Local Schools Superintendent T.C. Chappelear.

DiBenedetto said she was thrilled to earn the distinction from CORAS for her work with her eighth-grade students.

“I am very appreciative to receive this award. It truly is an honor to get recognition for all the hard work that I do throughout the school year,” she continued. “Every teacher deserves recognition for their endless hours and dedication to the education field. I am grateful to be able to work with the best students, teachers and administrators.”

She said she always longed to be in the education field and teach in the district where she earned her diploma. DiBenedetto is in her 20th year of teaching for Indian Creek and began at Wayne Elementary before joining ICMS.

“Education has always been a priority in my life and I was very fortunate to be raised by a family that valued it. My parents were always involved and supportive in all of my educational and extracurricular activities. Not everyone today is as fortunate as I was growing up. I try to instill that importance in my students and support them any way that I can.”

And she has made it her mission to help her students succeed.

“Throughout the years, I have had to continually change my teaching strategies in order to meet the needs, challenges and learning styles of my students. Many students today look for teachers to help them academically as well as emotionally. Having the privilege of watching students reach new levels of growth is what makes me want to continue my passion for teaching.”

She noted that the past few years have been especially difficult for educators as they have worked to close the gaps left behind from the COVID years. Despite the challenges she’s faced throughout her tenure, there is no other place DiBenedetto would rather be.

“My hope for my students is to have a better knowledge and understanding of math and a realization that education does have a huge impact on their lives. I hope they are able to take with them just a piece of the love that I have for the subject and be able to apply it to their future.”

Minch-Hick said there were myriad reasons why she nominated DiBenedetto for the honor and topping the list were her dedication to her students and mathematics education.

“DiBenedetto is a strong and determined educator. She cares about every child’s education and their emotional well-being. She has outstanding rapport with all of the kids in the building, even if she is not their math teacher,” Minch-Hick said. “Her fortitude to ensure that every child is successful is something I admire about her.”