Classroom Heroes September Winners

Without capes and without fame, though they may deserve both, teachers draw out our confidence and inspire us to pursue what we love. Landers Auto Group has teamed up with local media partners to help find the Classroom Heroes of Arkansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma throughout September, October, and November. Here are our September Classroom Heroes by state.

Arkansas – Stephanie Edmonson 

“She will draw you into her vortex of giving and service.”

Stephanie Edmonson works as a special education paraprofessional at Cabot Middle School South in Austin, Arkansas. She was nominated for not only inspiring her students to care about their community but for taking care of that same community herself. Stephanie was nominated by her coworker Myra. Here is what Myra had to say about why Stephanie is a Classroom Hero. 

“Stephanie Edmondson is a long-time special education paraprofessional at Cabot Middle School South. Not only does Stephanie assist students with their special learning needs, but she also goes above and beyond to feed, clothe, counsel, and love all students at CMSS. Stephanie has been running a food bank and clothing closet out of her room for several years. She involves countless students in her service-learning club and teaches them to give with open hands and a caring heart. That has been her motto since teaming up with fellow paraprofessionals and teachers to instill the importance of selfless acts of service to hundreds of students each year. No one who has ever come into contact with Stephanie will ever be the same. She will draw you into her vortex of giving and service. 

Her projects have included hundreds of care packages for deployed troops, the homeless, foster children, and local women’s shelters. She has a special place in her heart for military families and always draws those children into her service projects and includes their families and squadrons as well. Her students recently made a large paper flag honoring those lives lost in the 9/11 terror attacks and students included the names of the 13 servicemen killed recently in Afghanistan. This flag will be hung at Little Rock Air Force Base. Stephanie has commandeered local businesses and countless parents as sponsors for the dozens of projects her students undertake each year. They have made bracelets for CARTI patients, delivered toys and personal care items to Arkansas Children’s Hospital, donated hundreds of stuffed animals to first responders to comfort children they come in contact with, and raised funding for countless other service-learning projects. 

If anyone has ever been deserving of such an award, it is Stephanie. She is a selfless educator who is raising four strong young men while her retired military husband works in the Middle East to make the world a safer place for us all! Stephanie is never comfortable with the limelight on her, but she never backs down from fighting for her family, her students, and her community. She is truly deserving of the title Classroom Hero!”

Missouri – Kelsey Orson

“She also goes beyond that to help her students when something happens outside of her control.”

Kelsey Orson teaches at Webb City Middle School and was nominated for her drive to inspire confidence within her students. Kelsey was nominated by one of her student’s parents, Madelyn. Madelyn shared with us an instance when Kelsey rekindled Madelyn’s son’s confidence after it was torn down. Here’s the nomination we were sent. 

“Mrs. Orson is an incredible teacher. She goes above and beyond to ensure her students understand the material and are confident in what they’re doing. She also goes beyond that to help her students when something happens outside of her control. She had a substitute one day who put my son in a bad place. She refused him the ability to get a drink several times and made my son lose his confidence in asking for help as well as stating his needs. It took us six years to get him to have the confidence to say anything. I reached out to Mrs. Orson to advise her of what happened and she instantly jumped into action to help him feel comfortable with her again to not hesitate to say anything. The substitute was obviously out of line and the school handled her. But Mrs. Orson has made my boy go from dreading school and the possibility of being put in the same situation to being excited to go. 

On top of her outpouring of love for her students, my son is carrying straight high A’s in every subject because she ensures they are focused and learning everything they need to know. She makes my momma heart stay at ease knowing that when he’s not with me he’s safe and loved with her.”

Oklahoma – Brittni Bilyeu

“She is a defender of the arts and music education.”

Brittni Bilyeu is a music teacher at Reagan Elementary in Norman. She was nominated for sharing her love of music with her students and teaching them to appreciate the art around them. She keeps the love for music alive in her students. Brittni was nominated by her dad Kevin. Kevin definitely shared how passionate Brittni is for music in his written nomination below.

“Ms. Bilyeu sees each student in the school weekly and is constantly teaching music in an effort to kindle a love for music and the arts in a state and time when the arts have often been the first to be affected by budget restrictions. Ms. Bilyeu does music classes, works with autistic children, and, after school, does an elementary honor choir program and art program. In addition, she teaches private voice and music lessons. She has been Kodály method trained and makes music education fun, social, and cultural for her young students. She has nominated and had students go to district and state choirs at this early age to encourage them and others in their music education. She is a defender of the arts and music education and is very actively engaged in teaching children not just music, but to love and appreciate the arts.”

How to Nominate

Tell us your Classroom Hero’s story. We’re looking for teachers who have made an impact, who strive to do the best for their students, and who deserve to be recognized for their work. Nominate your hero during the nomination period, and watch closely for when we announce the winners. 

Here’s the schedule for the fall. 

September 1-21: Nomination Period

September 21-30: Panel Deliberation Period 

October 1: September Classroom Hero Announcement

October 1-21: Nomination Period

October 21-29: Panel Deliberation Period

November 1: October Classroom Hero Announcement

November 1-21: Nomination Period

November 21-30: Panel Deliberation Period

December 1: November Classroom Hero Announcement

December 1-15: Public Voting Period for Semester Hero, the Grand Prize Winner

December 17: Semester Hero Announcement