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"I touch the future. I teach." For Nancy Durham, this famous quote by Christa McAuliffe is more than just an inspirational saying—it has been the guiding philosophy of her entire professional life. As a recently retired educator who dedicated nearly half a century to shaping the minds of young Hoosiers, Nancy is the very definition of a community hero.
The Hoosier Lottery is proud to celebrate Nancy as part of the Hoosier Heroes Program, recognizing the monumental impact she has had on her students, her community and the future of Indiana.
Growing up in Rushville, education was always in Nancy’s blood. Her mother was a school nurse who later earned her master's degree in education. From a young age, Nancy loved to read, write and “play school.”
After graduating from Ball State University at just 21 years old, she accepted a position at South Ripley High School in 1976. She never left. Nancy taught language arts, social studies, speech and humanities, guiding students from the seventh grade all the way through their senior year.
"The seventh graders still want you to be involved in every single part of their lives," Nancy recalls with a smile. "The seniors needed me because they needed college recommendations, scholarship recommendations, and they needed to get themselves ready for college writing.”
Nancy’s dedication was boundless. In her small, tight-knit community, school was her life. Over the decades, she kept score at basketball and volleyball games, directed drama productions and senior plays and served as a cheerleader coach.
Teaching for nearly five decades means witnessing a tremendous amount of change. When Nancy started in 1976, tests were made on hand-cranked mimeograph machines that left hands covered in blue ink, and technology meant knowing how to operate filmstrips and opaque projectors. By the time she initially retired in 2014, classrooms had gone one-to-one with Chromebooks, and grades were logged entirely online.
Yet, through all the changing fads and technologies, Nancy's core mission remained the same: connecting with her students.
Even after her official retirement in 2014, Nancy wasn't quite ready to walk away. She spent the next 10 years as a substitute teacher, stepping in for maternity, medical and emergency leaves—even navigating the challenges of teaching through the COVID-19 pandemic. It was only two years ago that she finally, officially, stepped away from the classroom.
When asked what she would tell a young person considering a career in education today, Nancy's message is clear and passionate. "Keep at it. Don't give up. It's worth it... when somebody's eyes light up and they get the answer, when they get accepted into their college or when they finally get a better grade on a test, that's worth it. We desperately need good teachers."
The impact of her compassion is still felt today. Nancy regularly encounters former students who thank her for her guidance. She even inspired one of her former students to become an English teacher at South Ripley, fulfilling a childhood promise to one day "take her job."
Nancy may be retired from teaching, but she is far from slowing down. She remains a pillar of her community in Versailles, dedicating her time to a staggering list of organizations:
Educator Advocacy: She serves as the Second Vice President for the state organization of Delta Kappa Gamma (an international society for key women educators) and sits on the Indiana Retired Teachers Association (IRTA) Foundation Board, which awards scholarships and provides emergency help for elderly teachers.
Community Leadership: She is an active board member for Genesis Pathways to Success, a nonprofit promoting workforce activities and STEM camps for middle schoolers.
Church & Fellowship: Nancy directs her church choir, teaches children's church and helps run a senior ministry.
When she isn't busy volunteering, Nancy occasionally enjoys playing Hoosier Lottery Scratch-offs. But her connection to the lottery goes much deeper. As a retired Indiana educator, Nancy is a proud beneficiary of the Hoosier Lottery’s commitment to giving back. Each year, the Hoosier Lottery contributes a portion of its net proceeds directly to the Indiana Teachers' Retirement Fund, ensuring that heroes like Nancy are supported in their post-classroom lives.
For Nancy, this support ensures she can focus on what she loves most: continuing to serve the community she calls home. Reflecting on her life in southeastern Indiana, tucked right up against the beautiful borders of Versailles State Park, Nancy sums up the magic of being a Hoosier:
"When you go away, there's just something about coming back home again to Indiana," Nancy says. "It’s big, but yet small. Simple is another word that comes to mind. A simple, but beautiful life."
The Hoosier Lottery thanks Nancy Durham for her half-century of dedication, compassion and unwavering service to the next generation of Indiana.
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