Ball Brothers Foundation Names Muncie Community Schools Teacher Katherine Hughes 2026 Excellence in Teaching Award Recipient
In Katherine Hughes’ classroom at Muncie Central High School, history moves and unfolds outside of a textbook.
On any given day, students might analyze symbolism in a modern Olympic ceremony, take on the roles of peasants, clergy, and nobles during the French Revolution, or debate and make decisions that mirror the tensions of the time they are studying. The lessons stick because students get to experience the materials for themselves, and the content intentionally supports their interests.
That level of engagement is one of the reasons Ball Brothers Foundation has named Hughes, a social studies teacher at Muncie Central High School, the recipient of the 2026 Excellence in Teaching Award. The annual award recognizes a Delaware County educator who uses unique approaches and creates authentic learning experiences to motivate students.
Hughes centers her teaching on connection—between students and content, and between the past and the present.
“My classroom focuses on creating connections with students to encourage their growth not just with the material, but with skills beyond school. The goal is to help students grow as people and prepare them for the real world.”
Her classes run on active participation. In AP World History, many sophomores are taking on their first college-level course through a series of simulations and discussions that push them to think beyond memorization. Students build empires to understand the forces leading to World War I, test strategies to break trench warfare, and examine primary sources to track the global impact of the Great Depression and World War II. The unit ends with a Socratic seminar, where students lead the conversation and defend their perspectives.
Throughout the process, Hughes emphasizes writing, analysis, and organization, equipping students for future coursework, careers, and success on AP exams.
Hughes’ impact reaches across every level she teaches. She built a strong Advanced Placement World History program while maintaining high expectations in her general education courses. Students across all her classes have developed habits of discipline and curiosity to tackle complex material.
Colleagues point to Hughes’ success in how students experience her classroom and how they perform beyond it.
“My child loved her class—she called it hard, but said it made history interesting,” said a colleague and parent of one of Hughes’ former students. “That balance of rigor and connection is what sets Kate apart.”
Outside the classroom, Hughes invests heavily in her school and community. As a sponsor of the National Honor Society, she connects students with service opportunities and leads initiatives. She also serves as a longtime volleyball coach, helping student-athletes build confidence and teamwork on and off the court.
As the recipient of the Excellence in Teaching Award, Hughes will receive grant funding of $5,000 each for her classroom, school, and district, along with an additional $2,500 for professional development.
She plans to use the professional development funds to attend programs like the Library of Congress Teaching with Primary Sources Workshop and the White House History Teacher Institute, bringing document analysis, document-based question writing, and civic learning back to her classroom.
“What stands out about Katherine Hughes is her ability to make learning both rigorous and relevant,” said Jud Fisher, president and CEO of Ball Brothers Foundation. “The Excellence in Teaching Award recognizes educators who foster critical thinking and creativity. Katherine challenges her students to engage deeply with the material while building skills that will serve them well beyond high school.”
In addition to Hughes, Ball Brothers Foundation also recognized two finalists for the award: Brad Canada, a government/economics/finance/history teacher at Burris Laboratory School, and Christine Barrett, a kindergarten teacher at Pleasant View Elementary School.
Canada’s classroom centers on real-world application and student ownership of learning. In his U.S. Government course, students step into the role of lawmakers, drafting bills on issues that matter to them, building support among their peers, and debating proposals in a mock Congress. The process requires students to research, write, revise, and defend their ideas—skills that mirror the realities of civic life.
Across his courses, Canada emphasizes project-based learning, giving students choice in both topics and how they demonstrate their understanding. Whether analyzing current events, competing in a stock market simulation, or presenting to younger students, his classes push students to connect coursework to the world beyond school.
At Pleasant View Elementary School, Barrett focuses on building a strong foundation for learning through structure, consistency, and relationships. Her kindergarten classroom runs with clear routines, helping students develop independence and self-regulation to foster a lifelong love of learning early in their academic journey.
Her instruction blends literacy, math, and social-emotional development through hands-on activities, small-group work, and guided discussions. In one unit, students research animals ahead of a zoo visit, working together to gather information, create posters, and share what they’ve learned to practice collaboration and problem solving with others.
As finalists, Canada and Barrett will each receive a grant of $1,000 to be used in their classrooms and $1,000 for professional development. “For well over a decade, BBF has been using this award to shine a light on the incredible talent of public school teachers in Delaware County. We are inspired by the teachers we have the opportunity to meet each year and by the impact they are making on students,” reflected Fisher. The foundation uses an outside judging panel comprised of veteran educators, administrators, and business leaders to evaluate nominations submitted by school districts across the county. This year’s judging panel included: Wilisha Scaife (Ball State Teachers College professor), Don Engel (local education technology developer), Pat Clark (retired department chair from Ball State Teachers College), Kate Love-Jacobson (government administration professional), and Dale Basham (veteran educator, school administrator) To learn more about Ball Brothers Foundation’s Excellence in Teaching Award, including eligibility requirements and previous years’ winners, visit ballfdn.org/excellence-in-teaching-award.