McPHERSON, Kan. — Lincoln Elementary School Pre-K Teacher Erica Kramer’s impact goes far beyond her classroom.
Ad Astra Radio is proud to announce Mrs. Kramer as this month’s Classroom Hero Award recipient 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. Kramer is originally from McPherson and earned her degree from Emporia State University. She has been teaching for 19 years and has always taught at the pre-K level.
“I’ve always loved helping people and especially little kids,” Kramer said. “ I love the energy that they bring.”
Mrs. Kramer described the way her students learn new things as “magic” and shared that she enjoys being a part of that.
One of the things that makes Mrs. Kramer’s classroom fun for students is the exotic wildlife. This year, there are a few fish and even an axolotl, which she said the kids love.
“Axolotls are pretty cool,” Kramer said. “There’s so much science in helping with cancer and different things like that.”
Kramer also has a few different lizards, a leopard gecko and bearded dragons.
“I want to bring in as much of what students haven’t seen before and let them learn new experiences,” Kramer said. “And especially take care of the unloved critters in my opinion.”
One of Mrs. Kramer’s paras brings in reptiles (snakes) as well as her arachnids for the class too.
In a Classroom Hero Award nomination, Mrs. Kramer was described as an “amazing human being who consistently goes out of her way to make sure her students feel loved, supported, and excited about coming to school.”
The nominator added that Mrs. Kramer doesn’t stop caring about her students when the school day ends. She looks for creative ways to make a difference outside of the traditional classroom, including starting a girls’ running club.
“What makes Mrs. Kramer a Classroom Hero is not one big accomplishment. It is the countless little things she does every day when no one is watching,” the nominator said. “She makes children feel important. She helps families when they need it. She creates opportunities for kids to grow. Most importantly, she genuinely loves and cares about the children she teaches.”
Outside of the classroom, Mrs. Kramer has a very active lifestyle. She just got back from running in the Chicago Marathon on Oct. 11.
“I feel like as teachers we take care of little people and as moms we take care of so many people throughout the day, it’s also super important to take care of yourself,” Kramer said. “Running just helps me feel empowered. I just started running marathons and it’s something I’ll always do now.”
Kramer just qualified for the 131st Boston Marathon, which will be held on April 19, 2027.
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.
