SCS board approves proposal to honor former SHS Spanish teacher

The idea to honor a former Shelbyville High School Spanish teacher may spawn a new Hall of Fame for teachers.

Former Shelbyville Central Schools board president Curt Johnson delivered a presentation at Monday’s school board meeting requesting to honor Jerry Rice, who spent nearly three decades teaching Spanish to Shelbyville students.

Johnson wants to hang a plaque outside room 227 in Shelbyville High School – the current site of Spanish classes.

Johnson is a former student of Rice’s at SHS.

“When you look at the number of people at Shelbyville that went on to study Spanish or use it in their work, it is a real statistical outlier,” said Johnson. “It is really all because of Jerry Rice. He was a super teacher.

“He demanded excellence. He demanded kids work. That’s what you did because there was no other alternative.”

In addition to the plaque, Johnson is setting up a scholarship account in Rice’s name.

Rice and his wife, Susan, currently reside in Florida.

Johnson wants to have the dedication ceremony during fall Homecoming weekend at Shelbyville High School.

The board was hesitant to approve the honor for one teacher, knowing there are many more that deserve recognition. That spurred the discussion to create a SHS Teacher Hall of Fame that would mimic the current Alumni Hall of Fame that grows yearly.

The board will continue the Hall of Fame discussion to determine how to properly honor exceptional teachers.

The Shelby County Post is a digital newspaper producing news, sports, obituaries and more without a pay wall or subscription needed.