VU prides itself on offering access to high-quality, affordable education for all. Creating an atmosphere for student success is one of the highest priorities. Faculty, staff, and students dedicate themselves to ensure VU is the best university it can be.

VU is made strong by exceptional faculty like McClure. He is the "Best Teacher" of all teachers in Knox County.

"For John to have been selected as the Best Teacher from among all teachers in Knox County is indeed an honor! High impact teachers create a true impression on their students. They think carefully about their instruction, and they share an infectious love for learning. It is clear that John has gone above everyday teaching and has left an impression on VU students that will carry over a lifetime," VU Provost and Vice President of Instructional Services/Dean of Faculty Dr. Laura Treanor said.

A teacher is someone who motivates, inspires, and makes a meaningful difference in the world. McClure, who decided to become a teacher as a high school junior, is all that and more.

He has been teaching for 39 years. He started at VU in 2002 and has taught American history as well as state and local government on the Vincennes campus and in the Distance Education program. He also teaches history classes at North Knox High School for college credit through VU’s Project EXCEL dual-credit program.

A desire to build relationships with students drives McClure to be the best teacher he can be.

“I want to show love and respect to all my students," McClure said. "I’m not sure who said this, but "rules without relationship result in rebellion."

"I know that living and teaching in this county for 39 years, my students are going to be people I interact with long after they graduate. It is very important to try to earn and win the respect of students by showing them respect. Students then are more likely to pay attention to what I say, and they know I am interested in them and what they have to say. Years after they graduate or had my class, they may forget a lot of the content that I taught, but they will remember how I treated them, and that is absolutely the most important thing.”

The 2020 Knox County’s Readers’ Choice Awards are sponsored by the Vincennes Sun-Commercial.

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