Sarah Jacobs named 2025 Marion County Teacher of the Year

West Port High School’s Sarah Jacobs was awarded the 2025 Teacher of the Year [Public Education Foundation of Marion County].
West Port High School’s Sarah Jacobs has been honored as Marion County’s 2025 Golden Apple Teacher of the Year.
Jacobs, who teaches ninth and 10th grade English, took home the award at the 35th annual Golden Apple Gala, hosted by the Public Education Foundation of Marion County.
“As an educator, you always know there’s something you can be doing better, or there’s something you can work on,” Jacobs said. “I’m constantly trying to improve my craft, and to know that I was able to receive that recognition is just such a huge honor.”
Jacobs thanked all the educators who inspired and molded her during her foundation in teaching, saying she wouldn’t be “half the teacher” without them.
“I wouldn’t be who I am without my parents, without my family,” Jacobs said. “That includes my mom, my sister, my dad, my family in general and my husband—but also all of these other incredible educators I work with every day.”
Jacobs paid tribute to the five other finalists: Joel Kunz, Jennifer Aderholt, Kristen Wilson, Sarah Burfening and Joan Edwards.
“We’re still all in this together,” Jacobs said. “They still represent our district so well, and they’re incredible.”
As Teacher of the Year, Jacobs has been awarded a three-year lease for a 2025 Acura from Jenkins Auto Group.
“I drove to work this morning in it, and honestly teared up a little, just because I don’t think it feels real yet,” she said.
Her students excitedly greeted her on her first day back in the classroom after the gala, she said.
“We definitely spent a few minutes at the beginning of class hugging and high-fiving and being excited together,” Jacobs said.
For her English students, Jacobs turns preparing for standardized testing and reading Shakespeare into an interactive, hands-on experience.
“We do a lot of historical documents and older texts that might not necessarily be the most exciting thing they’re going to sit down and read,” Jacobs said. “So, making them want to push themselves and want to interact with those texts is obviously a challenge, but it’s one that I try to have fun with.”
Many of the people in Jacobs’ support system are also teachers, including her mother, sister, sister-in-law and best friend—all of whom she hopes she’s made proud with the recognition as Teacher of the Year.
Next, Jacobs will advance on to the state-level competition for Teacher of the Year. Last year, Marion County’s 2024 Golden Apple Teacher of the Year Jennifer Brown advanced as a finalist of the statewide competition.
Jacobs said regardless of who’s watching and observing her teaching style, her time in the classroom will remain true and focused on what’s best for the students.
“We have this expression in teaching, ‘Don’t put on the dog and pony show.’ If somebody’s coming through your room, it’s not about making it a huge spectacle. Do what you do every day,” she said. “I really put my students first, and I’m just going to showcase that and showcase what we do here at West Port, and I’m hoping that that’ll lead to good things.”