McPHERSON, Kan. — Ad Astra Radio is proud to announce Kelsey Otto, Eisenhower Elementary School second grade teacher as the most recent recipient of the Classroom Hero Award presented by Peoples Bank and Trust.
Each month, Ad Astra Radio randomly selects a different educator, from community nominations, to receive the Classroom Hero Award, along with a “Thank You” gift basket. Gift items are courtesy of community partners, including Peoples Bank and Trust, Midway Motors and Stutzman’s Greenhouse.
Mrs. Otto is in her 13th year of teaching. She first taught at Roosevelt Elementary and was there for about five years before continuing at Eisenhower.
A native of Hutchinson, Mrs. Otto went to Trinity Catholic High School, then got her education degree from Emporia State University. She later obtained her masters degree from McPherson College.
Mrs. Otto loves teaching, and there are many things she could list as reasons for why she loves her job, but reading is at the top.
She added that she tutors kids on the side and works with students in reading in small group.
“When you take a kid that doesn’t know how to read or struggles to read and you give them that gift of confidence and the love of reading, it’s really just probably the coolest thing that a person can give somebody else,” Otto said. “And I get to be a part of that, which is really neat.”
Mrs. Otto shared that she was a “struggler” in school and specifically had a hard time with reading. Her fourth grade teacher was the first teacher she remembers who really encouraged her.
“‘She said I know that you think you can’t do this, but you’ve got no choice, so buck up. Let’s do it!’” Otto said.
Mrs. Otto’s teacher has been there through many stages of Otto’s life. She was at her graduation, there for her college successes, for her kids’ birth, and even her wedding.
“She’s literally been there all along the way and I guess it’s just my hope that I get just one…Just one kid that I can make a difference like that,” Otto said.
Mrs. Otto’s students work hard towards their reading goals each week so they can eat lunch with her on Wednesdays. She calls this her Fluency Club.
“Anything you can do to encourage them to read instead of watching a screen, it really helps,” Otto said.
In a classroom hero nomination, Mrs. Otto was described as an “amazing teacher” who goes “above and beyond” for her students.
“Her [Kelsey’s] class recently showed the most reading growth from fall to winter!” The nominator said. “She has great ideas to get her students motivated to do better in and out of the classroom!”
The Classroom Hero Award seeks to highlight the hard work and dedication of those on the front lines in our local schools. Nominations are continually being accepted at https://www.adastraradio.com/classroomhero.
Ad Astra Radio has been locally owned and operated since 1986 and is proud to be your hometown radio station.
