McPHERSON, Kan. — Ad Astra Radio is proud to announce the most recent recipient of the Ad Astra Radio Classroom Hero Award presented by Peoples Bank and Trust.
Canton-Galva Elementary School 5th Grade teacher Cassandra Hillary was presented the Classroom Hero Award on Tuesday, Dec. 16.
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. Hillary has been at Canton-Galva Elementary for four years. This is her second year teaching. She was a para her first two years at the school.
Teaching is something that Mrs. Hillary has always wanted to pursue. She shared how she used to play school with her brother and “torture” him by making him do things he wasn’t prepared for.
“Life happens,” Hillary said. “And it just didn’t happen until I was much older, but now I’m doing what I’ve always wanted to do.”
Mrs. Hillary is originally from California. Her family moved to the area about five years ago.
“The rest of my extended family, my mom and grandparents live here,” she added.
Mrs. Hillary graduated from Wichita State University.
“Once I came here, I kind of had the financial freedom to go to school and time to go to school,” Hillary said.
Teaching the older kids is fun for Mrs. Hillary because she can be a little snarky back to them. She has such a good relationship with them, that they keep her up to date on things going on or what she’s missed.
“They always have something new to say. Something to tell me,” Hillary said. “I’ve been gone because I’ve been sick and my daughter had surgery, and so today is like one of the first days I’ve been back and they’re like, ‘Oh my gosh, I’ve got to tell you everything about what’s going on.’”
Mrs. Hillary added that students at this age are still eager to learn as well. “They’re not so old where they think it’s stupid,” she said.
A community member who nominated Mrs. Hillary for the Classroom Hero Award shared that Mrs. Hillary always goes above and beyond for her students and said the community is lucky to have her as a teacher.
“She [Mrs. Hillary] is positive, but yet instills rigor, respect, and high expectations within her classroom,” the nominator said. “This is the second year we have been fortunate enough to have her as our child’s teacher and we are so excited for the growth she has made in reading and writing! She continues to thrive under her care.”
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.
