On any given day in Amber Stevenson’s classroom, learning might look like a lesson at the table or a lively round of UNO. Either way, her students know she’s right there with them. Ms. Stevenson teaches Seminole Elementary’s Life Skills classroom, and for her, being present with her kids is what the job is all about. “This is my home,” she said. “I love my kids. I love my coworkers.”
Seminole Elementary Principal Charla Karr didn’t hold back her praise. “She’s a saint. She will have a little special jewel in her crown,” Karr said. “She loves her kids endlessly. She is loyal to Seminole Elementary. She will stand up for teachers, for her kids, every single day, all day long. She is phenomenal and so worthy of this award.”
Educational Aide Kacee Espinoza, who has worked alongside Ms. Stevenson for about six years, sees that dedication up close. “She’s incredible with the kids,” Espinoza said. “She does everything that she needs to do: hands-on, mentally, physically. She’s prepared for them. They come in, they’re happy, and she’s just an amazing teacher inside and out. She’s like a mom figure here.”
When staff members cast their votes, the same themes came up again and again: patience, compassion, and a refusal to give up on her students. “She continues to push through even on the hard days and always, always puts her students first,” one colleague wrote. Another said she “would climb any hill” for her students, and a third praised how she gets the whole school involved in supporting her kids. “The work she does is not always easy, and so much of her effort happens behind the scenes,” another colleague shared, “but the impact she makes on her students is truly meaningful.”
For Ms. Stevenson, the recognition came as a complete surprise. “I come to work and I love my class and I like to be here,” she said. “Winning this award is something that I never expected.” Her students walk into a classroom where they are expected, prepared for, and genuinely loved. Congratulations to Ms. Stevenson, and thank you to her and her classroom aides for making Seminole Elementary feel like home for students and staff alike.