A third-year math and science teacher at Bloomington Junior High School, Haleigh Couch, is competing for the top prize in Bill Nye’s America’s Favorite Teacher contest.
Nye is an American science communicator best-known for his television show Bill Nye the Science Guy, which ran from 1993 until 1999. Winners of the contest will be a part of a virtual school assembly alongside Nye.
The contest is meant to showcase teachers who are shaping the future in impactful ways. The winner will be selected by highest number of votes and will receive a two-page spread in Reader’s Digest magazine, $25,000 and a trip to Hawaii.
“I became a teacher to be the mentor I wished for as a student—someone who inspires, challenges, and believes in every learner’s potential,” Couch said on her contestant webpage. “My goal is to create a space where students feel valued, capable, and supported as they work toward their dreams. Helping them grow academically and personally while pushing them to achieve goals they once thought impossible is what drives my passion for teaching every day.”
Couch, a 2022 graduate of Illinois State University, said her most memorable teaching experience was starting her career midyear after another teacher quit, leaving an open position.
“They were hesitant to trust or believe in me, which made the start incredibly challenging,” Couch said. “I worked hard to earn their trust, showing them I was there to stay. By the end of the year, we had built incredible relationships, and I’m proud to say I still maintain those bonds with many of them to this day.”
Couch plans to use the $25,000 cash prize to enhance her classroom if she wins.
“A portion would go toward purchasing essential supplies, engaging resources and technology to create a more dynamic learning environment,” Couch said, reserving some of the winnings for student loan payments and future student needs like field trips.
Voters can give tax-deductible donations which will benefit the Planetary Society, a governmental nonprofit organization which supports astronomy-related projects. Voters may vote once per day for free and are allowed more votes with these donations, according to Couch.
“It would be so incredible to win this and represent our community in this way,” Couch said.
Voters have until 7 p.m. Thursday, March 6, to cast their votes on the America's Favorite Teacher website.
