Liberty teacher wins Golden Apple

QUINCY (WGEM) - Liberty Junior High School teacher Sara Schmidt was awarded February’s WGEM Golden Apple Award.

Schmidt says teaching seventh grade is the perfect fit for her.

“They are at that perfect stage they are just, and they are so much fun to be around all the time,” Schmidt said. “There humor sometimes gets us off track, but it’s great I love it.”

Student Zoey Kasparie nominated Schmidt for the Golden Apple Award. She says she and her classmates can always count on Schmidt for help.

“Whenever I feel like I need someone she is always there to help me and comfort me, and if one day I just need her help I can go to her and ask for it and she is right there,” Kasparie explained.

“She is a very compassionate teacher and she is a teacher that you can always go to if you need anything, and she always helps us if we have a question,” seventh grader Audrey McKinney added.

Co-workers say students respond to Schmdit’s caring and compassionate approach.

“They go to her for advice and extra support, not just for school and academic things but also life things too,” Liberty 7-12th Special Education Coordinator Thera Green said.

Schmidt says building strong relationships with her students is key to their overall success.

“If you don’t have that relationship, that connection with those students they are either just not going to listen to you or they are just not going to be emotionally ready to take in what you are trying to say,” Schmidt explained.

Schmidt is building foundations that create success beyond the classroom.

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