Illinois Teacher Honored for Her Zooming and Hero-like Skills

It's true, not all superheroes wear capes, some teach 4th grade and do it while displaying tremendous strength and grace.

Every family with children in school has a favorite teacher and the reason are often pretty touching. As a society, we must never forget how blessed we are to have so many good humans who answered the call to become a teacher.

Week after week, I read these touching letters of how a teacher shows up for their school, their students, and their families, and do it because it's the right thing to do, not because they'll be recognized in some special way.

Those letters are nominations we receive from families who want their child's favorite to become 97ZOK's Teacher of the Week.

This week, we honor Julie Bartel from Rockford Christian Elementary.

Mrs. Bartel was nominated by Courtney, a mom whose two sons are in her class. Courtney writes,

"Mrs. Bartel is an amazing 4th-grade teacher at Rockford Christian Elementary. She was recently awarded the Hemlock Hero Award (Rockford Christian is on Hemlock Lane) because of her dedication to her students and families. Before Christmas break, the virus was spreading quickly thru the fourth grade and I was concerned my boys would get it so I decided to keep the boys home. The boys were home for three weeks. During this time Mrs. Bartel zoomed every day and every subject with my kids and all the other ones sick or quarantined at home. She was doing this while she still had a class in attendance at the school. And the icing on the cake was the other 4th-grade teacher got the virus along with some other students and they shut down the other 4th-grade room for a week. Mrs. Bartel didn’t want them to fall behind so she zoomed them too. I was in awe of how smooth everything went. She stayed late almost every night to get stuff together for zooming. She is truly one in a million. She has the biggest heart. I recently had surgery and she has offered to keep the kids late to help finish their homework or she even offered to bring them home. She really is the one who deserves to be recognized!!"

As 97ZOK's Teacher Of The Week, Julie Bartel was surprised with a beautiful floral arrangement from Broadway Florist and a delicious cake from Nothing Bundt Cakes.

Nominate your favorite teacher HERE.