The Bull Dog Alumni Association recently recognized two outstanding Columbus North teachers. Kristi Conrad was named the 2026 Outstanding Teacher of the Year and Ellie Kopp was selected as the Emerging Teacher of the Year. Both honorees were nominated by CNHS students and selected by the Bull Dog Alumni Selection Committee which includes alumni, former teachers, and CNHS administrators.
Ms. Conrad received a $2000 honorarium as the 10th Outstanding Teacher selected since 2016. She is a Columbus North and Ball State alumna who has taught students from pre-K through 12th grade during her career as an educator. She first taught in Columbus at Northside Middle School and has now been at Columbus North for several years. After earning her B.A. in Secondary Education, she earned her ENL (English as a New Language) license. She now teaches English Language Development courses at CNHS. She and her husband of 30 years have 4 children – including Kenna, a 2026 Bull Dog graduate.
Ms. Kopp, who grew up in New York and Texas, came to Indiana to study at IU’s Jacobs School of Music and earned her B.A. in Music Education with a Conducting minor. At IU, she performed in many University bands, ensembles, and choral groups and was active in the collegiate chapters of several national associations of Choral Directors and Music Educators. After only 3 years as Director of Choral Music at CNHS, she and her students have won numerous awards and championships. Notably, the Columbus North Choral Department has earned the All-Music Award (recognizing program-wide excellence) from the Indiana State School Music Association for two consecutive school years. Ms. Kopp received a $1000 honorarium as the fourth Emerging Teacher of the Year which recognizes educators who have joined CNHS within the past 3 school years.
David Clark, CNHS Principal; Hedy George, Alumni Exec Director; Ellie Kopp, Emerging Teacher of the Year; Kristi Conrad, Outstanding Teacher of the Year; Barbara Handt, Alumni Board Vice President; and Becky Merritt, Alumni Board member & Emerging Teacher Sponsor
The Outstanding Teacher awards are part of the Bull Dog Alumni Association’s Teacher Appreciation Program (TAP) which seeks to recognize and reward the folks who are developing the next generation of outstanding Bull Dogs. The TAP has provided over $20,000 in rewards and gifts to CNHS teachers and support staff over the last two school years and expects to increase the amount of support in the future. TAP programs are funded by Bull Dog Alumni Association personal donations and sponsorships.