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.
McPherson High School Language Arts teacher Jerrad Willis was presented the Classroom Hero Award on Tuesday, Nov. 18.
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.
Mr. Willis has taught for a total of 14 years. He is currently in his seventh-year teaching at McPherson High School.
Mr. Willis is from the Leavenworth area. After graduating from Lansing High School, he later finished his schooling at the University of Saint Mary and started his teaching career at Leavenworth High School.
The students are why Mr. Willis enjoys teaching.
“It’s the people we do it for,” Willis said. “Being able to see them grow and change and learn is always something that is really exciting.”
Mr. Willis added that seeing his students grow from year-to-year and watching them become who they want to be is also a rewarding part of his job.
Language Arts means a lot to Mr. Willis because he feels that a story says a lot about who people are. He shared that students discover more about themselves when examining a story.
“Being able to step into the shoes of someone else and experience something that we might not ever be able to experience on our own, really is one of those skills that helps us build empathy,” Willis said. “It helps us know a little bit more about the world around us. It helps us become better people.”
In Classroom Hero Award nominations, Mr. Willis was described as welcoming, positive, engaging and caring.
One nominator shared that Mr. Willis gives “brutally honest, but the best, advice.”
“He is an amazing teacher who is also a genuine person. He cares about all of his students, talks to them about their interests (even if he doesn’t understand them), and much more,” said another nominator. “I miss having him as a teacher, and wish I could retake his class every single day.”
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.
