By Brenna Eller
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Ad Astra Radio is proud to announce Tara Urban, Allen STEM Magnet School Pre-K and K-2 Communication & Social Skills teacher, as the most recent recipient of the Classroom Hero Award presented by Heartland Credit Union.
Each month, Ad Astra Radio honors a different educator, selected from community nominations, to receive the Classroom Hero Award, along with a “hero” gift basket, courtesy of community partners Heartland Credit Union, Midway Motors of Hutchinson, Stutzman’s Greenhouse, Hutch Putt and The Foto Cowboy.
Mrs. Urban has been teaching at Allen STEM Magnet School for six years. The last four years, Mrs. Urban has taught Kindergarten and has spent two years in the CSS (Communication & Social Skills) classroom. Overall, Urban has been a teacher for nine years, including a school she taught at prior to Allen.
Urban didn’t always know she wanted to be a teacher. She actually thought she would pursue social work but then found a passion for teaching while being a stay-at-home mom.
“When my daughter was going through Kindergarten, I volunteered quite a bit at her school,” Urban said. “I was given an opportunity to start up an extended preschool program and I fell in love with it, so I went back and got my teaching license.”
Mrs. Urban’s favorite part about teaching is watching the achievements that her students make.
“When I see that spark in them,” Urban added, “And their engagement. That’s really big for me.”
In an anonymous nomination, Mrs. Urban was described as an amazing teacher.
“I have never seen a teacher as dedicated as her,” the nominator said. “She goes above and beyond. She is a true definition of a teacher. It takes a hero to teach heroes.”
The Classroom Hero Award seeks to highlight the hard work and dedication of those on the front lines of our local schools. Nominations can be submitted at https://www.adastraradio.com/classroom-hero.
Ad Astra Radio has been locally owned and operated since 1986 and is proud to be your hometown radio station.
