HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Ad Astra Radio is proud to announce Valerie Labenz, Trinity Catholic Jr/Sr High School Mathematics teacher, as the most recent Classroom Hero presented by Heartland Credit Union.
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. Labenz has been teaching at Trinity Catholic for 16 years.
“Prior to that I was a substitute for two or three years,” Labenz said. “And prior to that, I was a full-time mother.”
Mrs. Labenz graduated from Colorado State University and earned her teaching degree from there as well.
She first started her teaching career in Colorado (where she also grew up) and taught high school math there. The majority of her time though, she has taught at Trinity Catholic in Hutchinson.
When asked what she loves most about teaching, Mrs. Labenz said, “I love teaching at a Catholic school because I am able to share my faith. It’s wonderful to be able to speak about God in the school setting.”
She also added that she has two goals for her students. The first being the same as the goal of Trinity Catholic’s: “to help students to get to Heaven” and the other being to help students learn math, feel confident and enjoy it.
Mrs. Labenz has taught 7th and 8th grade every year she has been at Trinity Catholic. This year, she also taught Algebra I and Applied Math. She has taught Algebra III and some others in the past, but junior high and the lower part of high school have been her focus areas.
Mrs. Labenz will be retiring at the end of the school year.
In a Classroom Hero nomination, Mrs. Labenz was described as a patient teacher who instills hard work and organization in the kids.
“She has had three of my four kids,” the nominator said. “Sadly, she is retiring this year right before my fourth gets there. I am nominating her for her hard work and dedication to the JR high kids.”
The nominator added that they are sad to see her go and appreciate all that she has done over the years.
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.
