McPHERSON, Kan. — Ad Astra Radio is proud to announce Madison Balencia, 3rd grade teacher at Roosevelt Elementary School, as this month’s recipient of the Ad Astra Radio 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, Stutzman’s Greenhouse and Hutch Putt.
Mrs. Balencia is in her second year of teaching at Roosevelt Elementary School. She grew up in California and came to Kansas to study at Central Christian College of Kansas.
After school, Mrs. Balencia said she was lucky enough to get a teaching job at Roosevelt.
“Growing up that [teaching] was the only job I ever wanted,” Balencia said. “It’s a great opportunity to make a difference.”
Mrs. Balencia shared that the teachers she had growing up changed her life and she wants to do the same for her students.
The elementary level was her number one pick for what age level she wanted to teach.
“I feel like it’s a really developmental age for the kids to kind of see good role models and make a huge choice of what kind of person they want to be,” Balencia said. “They get to learn social skills and really learn about being a good person, not just academically. And that shapes how their education will go moving forward.”
A community member who nominated Balencia said she is a one-of-a-kind teacher and that they don’t know anyone more deserving of the Classroom Hero Award.
“She [Mrs. Balencia] truly has the calling of being a teacher on her life,” the nominator added. “The way she is with the students and bends over backwards to meet each one’s needs is amazing. It’s hard to find teachers who have that ability anymore, especially a newer teacher.”
The nominator also shared appreciation for Mrs. Balencia for helping their 10-year-old son who was struggling to stay focused. When the student tested for the gifted program, Mrs. Balencia helped keep him busy and challenged him in the classroom.
“She didn’t just shove him off to do busy work, she gave him meaningful work that would help him grow on top of his curriculum with the gifted program,” the nominator said. “I could go on and on about what she means to our family and I’m so sad this is our last year to have her but the seeds she has planted for my children have made this momma heart extremely happy.”
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.
