Worthington school board members this week honored two new "compassionate teachers" and the Central Ohio High School Chemistry Teacher of the Year.

Worthington school board members met Monday, Sept. 8.

The two latest recipients of the Gary Smith Compassionate Teaching Award are Linworth Alternative Program teacher and Director Wayne Harvey, and Margaret Wilcox, English as a second language teacher at Colonial Hills and Wilson Hill elementary schools.

The Central Ohio High School Chemistry Teacher of the Year is Thomas Worthington High School teacher Cynthia Hummel.

Niki Gnezda, who teaches at Worthington Kilbourne High School, presented the Gary Smith Compassionate Teaching Award to Harvey and Wilcox at the board meeting.

"It is always an honor for me to be here and tonight we recognize two truly special educators," Gnezda said. "Gary was a special teacher who motivated people by believing in them. Dozens of young people spent time in our living room and Gary went above and beyond his duties as a teacher to help them."

Gnezda and her children, Yvonne, Tony and Katherine, created the award in honor of Gnezda's late husband, Gary Smith, who was an educator and coach in the district for 30 years.

Gnezda read a nomination letter written by a student named Eduardo.

"Mrs. Wilcox went to the eye doctor's with me and my mom and dad ... " the letter stated.

Gnezda said Wilcox, who has taught in the district for the past 14 years, went with the boy to his doctor appointment to help interpret the doctor's advice to him and his family.

Gnezda said she received other touching letters about Wilcox, describing ways she went the extra mile for the students she taught.

"I would like to say thank you and tell you it is such a blessing to work with all the families I've worked with in Worthington," Wilcox said.

Harvey has been an administrator at Linworth for 18 years.

Gnezda read a letter of nomination for Harvey.

"Whatever Wayne does, he does with spirit and a sense of humor," the letter read. "Thank you for providing both a net and a landing pad for students who would not have otherwise found their way."

Harvey said he is in "the twilight of his career."

"Now that I am in my 35th year of teaching, I know that teaching is not rocket science," he said. "Education doesn't happen to masses -- it happens one learning experience at a time. It happens when teachers manage to establish good relationships with students and it happens when what is taught in the classroom becomes relevant to students.

"It was my pleasure to work with Gary Smith in the old Kilbourne building," he said.

Before accepting her recognition as Central Ohio Chemistry Teacher of the Year, Hummel walked to the front of the room wearing plastic goggles, then snapped her fingers and created a quick burst of flaming fire.

"I don't know what teachers do who don't have combustion as a hook," she said.

Hummel, who is in her 11th year with Worthington schools, thanked board members and talked about the American Chemical Society, which provides funds for summer workshops and grants for teachers and generally "bends over backwards to help out teachers," she said.

Hummel was nominated by Sara Quart, science department chairwoman, who said Hummel received the award for her professional development efforts, outside chemistry-related activities and her innovative classroom teaching strategies.

The co-adviser of the Science Olympiad team, Hummel helps with Worthington Field Studies and is a member of the Ohio Math and Science Coalition. She also is a member of the Ohio Partnership for Continued Learning for the state of Ohio.

Superintendent Melissa Conrath said Hummel was demonstrating "the magic" of chemistry when she first met her.

"The first time I saw Cynthia, she was wearing a wizard's hat," Conrath said. "One of her students called her 'such a chemistry geek' but meant it in an affectionate way."

The next school board meeting is set for 7:30 p.m. Sept. 22 at the Worthington Education Center, 200 E. Wilson Bridge Road.