Award from student touches teacher
Published: April 6, 2006
Meredith Schroeder, a teacher at Reiley Elementary School, is used to receiving a piece of pipe cleaner art or a hug as thanks from her students. But what one of her students did caused her to let loose tears of joy during a surprise ceremony.
Schroeder, a first and second grade teacher, was selected as the Great American Teacher of the Week for the first week of March after two of her students Dalton Bates, and Connor Walsh, thought to nominate her.
One of her second grade students, Dalton Bates, nominated her by writing a letter to Great American Financial Resources and Warm 98 (WRRM 98.5 FM) to show how much Schroeder meant to him and another classmate and friend.
“That’s probably as a teacher one of the best and most sincere rewards you can get,” Schroeder said.
The award was presented to Schroeder in her classroom with a surprise visit from a crowd of people that included her husband, and a radio crew who broadcasted her reactions.
“I was shocked,” she said.
Her students normally thank her with hugs, letters and drawings, Schroeder said.
“I get a lot of things made out of pipe cleaners,” she said. “I have a large collection of bracelets and necklaces.”
Schroeder, 28, is in her seventh year of teaching at Reiley. She recently married and lives in Burlington. She lived in Campbell County until moving a year ago, and has earned both bachelors and masters degrees from Northern Kentucky University.
Teaching isn’t a job for either Schroeder or her students, because the kids are just as excited about coming to school as she is.
“It’s easy when you’ve got such great kids,” she said.
Linda Bates, the mother of Dalton Bates, helped her son write the letter of endorsement on Schroeder’s behalf.
Dalton and his friend Connor Walsh wanted to nominate Schroeder to show her how much she means to them, Bates said. Dalton then wrote the letter with help from his mother.
“Mrs. Schroeder doesn’t yell at us when we mess up and she makes learning fun by letting us do fun activities,” Dalton wrote in the letter. He went on to write that Schroeder “is intelligent and pretty. She teaches us how to get along with everyone.”
Linda Bates said Schroeder teaches children by example how to be patient and kind under any circumstances.
“She’s just a phenomenal teacher,” Bates said.
She’s in tune with the kids’ needs educationally and emotionally.”
Schroeder said she has always been impressed by the support of the families at Reiley.
“It just makes this job very worthwhile.”
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