HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Ad Astra Radio is proud to announce the most recent Classroom Hero presented by Heartland Credit Union as Union Valley Elementary School fourth grade teacher Brittany Bontrager.
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. Bontrager is a Hutchinson native and went to Nickerson High School. She earned a teaching degree at Emporia State University and has been teaching for a total of eight years.
She taught in Emporia for one year, at Wiley Elementary School for five years and has been with Union Valley for two years.
Mrs. Bontrager aims to be the kind of teacher who makes a difference in the lives of her students, like the one who inspired her and made her want to become a teacher.
“I had a first grade teacher who was just really amazing and inspirational,” Bontrager said. “She took care of me and made me feel safe in her classroom and just made me feel like I belonged somewhere.”
When asked what she loves most about teaching her fourth graders, Mrs. Bontrager said she loves the students’ creativity, curiosity and the joy they have for school.
“They come in each day just wanting to learn more and they are just so much fun to hang out with,” Bontrager said.
In a classroom hero nomination, Mrs. Bontrager was described as a leader with a lot of compassion.
The nominator also said Mrs. Bontrager is “one of a kind” and that the school is lucky to have her. They shared that she attends football, volleyball, gymnastics and dance competitions on weekends to show her support for her students.
“She teaches from [the] heart and it shows!” The nominator added.
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.
