MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
A familiar face has returned to the classrooms at Trinity Catholic Junior Senior High School — and is already earning recognition for his impact on students.
Isaac Miller, a 2019 Trinity graduate now in his second year of teaching, was recently named the recipient of the St. Rose Philippine Duchesne Outstanding New Teacher Award, presented during Catholic Schools Week by the Diocese of Wichita. The honor recognizes one outstanding early-career teacher among educators across the diocese’s 38 Catholic schools.
Miller teaches English at both the junior and senior high levels and is deeply involved beyond the classroom, coaching football and track while also assisting with forensics and theater. Trinity Principal Joe Godina said that broad involvement has been central to Miller’s early success.
“Isaac is kind of a jack-of-all-trades,” Godina said. “While he’s new as a teacher, he’s certainly not new to Trinity. He understands our culture, our students, and how important relationships are in education.”
Miller said returning to his alma mater was a decision shaped by both reflection and faith. After attending college in Nebraska, he felt called to bring new experiences back home.
“I had a lot of different experiences when I went away,” Miller said. “I thought it would be really cool to come back with everything I’ve learned and see what kind of difference I could make in a new role at the same school.”
That philosophy extends well beyond lesson plans. Miller emphasized that building relationships with students — on the field, at games, and in extracurricular activities — directly strengthens learning inside the classroom.
“When students see you outside the classroom, you get more buy-in,” he said. “You’re a bigger part of their life, not just someone teaching English. That makes everything smoother when you’re back in class.”
Godina, who previously taught for more than two decades at Hutchinson High School, said the emphasis on relationships transcends school size.
“Big school or small school, it’s really the same,” he said. “When students trust you and know you care, they’ll work for you. The difference is just the number of kids.”
Miller admitted he was caught completely off guard when his name was announced for the diocesan award.
“I had no idea,” he said. “When they said it was going to a young teacher, I started to suspect — but I was very surprised and very grateful.”
For Miller, the recognition affirmed the challenges and rewards of a demanding profession.
“Teaching is one of the most fulfilling jobs, but it can be hard,” he said. “To have your work acknowledged like that — it feels really good.”
Godina said the honor was well deserved and reflective of Miller’s early impact on the Trinity community.
“He really is a fantastic teacher,” Godina said. “This recognition speaks to the kind of influence he’s already having on our students.”