SYRACUSE—Deborah Kroeger does more than teach – she inspires. The Cook Elementary second grade teacher cares deeply about her students and goes above and beyond to help them excel in school. Kroeger was surprised at a school assembly last week where she was named as this year’s recipient of the Heidi Martin Mighty Heart Educator of Excellence Award. 

“Whether students are high achievers or strugglers, Deborah invests her time,” said Principal Scott Hughes. “She learns how each child operates and is able to meet their unique needs. When children struggle or moments of self-doubt creep in, Deborah helps them process feelings.”

She excels at social emotional learning and helps children work through anxiety, he said. “They leave her class believing in themselves. Whether academically or socially, no student leaves Deborah’s classroom without skills that set them up for success throughout the rest of their schooling.”

The award is named after Heidi Ann Martin who was born with only two chambers in her heart, about half of what everyone else has. Martin had her first heart transplant when she was 3 days old and then spent the next 29 years undergoing other surgeries and battling complications of her condition. This didn’t stop her from becoming a nurse at McKay Dee Hospital in Ogden. When her heart, organs and liver started to deteriorate she received together a new heart and liver in a 15 hour surgery. 

Martin passed away on Jan. 12, 2017. Her legacy continues with the Heidi Martin Mighty Heart Educator of Excellence Award that is given to educators who significantly impact their students’ academic and emotional growth.

Kroeger started teaching at Cook in 2001 and has been there ever since. “I love second grade,” she said. “The other teachers became family. It’s a great positive atmosphere here.”

In high school, Kroeger said her plan was to go into the medical field. “I remember there was a preschool there. They needed a volunteer one day so I volunteered. The teacher pulled me aside and said ‘you should do this, you’re a natural.’ I took a preschool class and I was hooked. I knew that was what I wanted to do. That’s the impact of a teacher’s words.”

Kroeger makes learning fun. “Every Friday is chicken soup day,” she said. “We read a story and form a compliment circle where we build each other up. The kids say things like, ‘you are so nice to play with.’ As we go along they say more specific things. They’re sincere with their compliments.”

During COVID Kroeger wanted to come up with a way for the kids to connect. “We’d get online and do show and tell,” she said. “It was fun for them to talk to each other on screen. Connection is a big part of school.”

Kroeger said she loves to see the kids grow in confidence. “At first the student can maybe only read four words but then you work and work until they make it to more. It’s fun to see that confidence grow and know you’re a part of the team that did that.”

In addition to being a second grade teacher, Kroeger also coaches robotics and leads the choir. “I like to give all students an opportunity for music in school. I’m also the teacher liaison with PTA and do the website and social media for the school. Someone has to do it and I’m happy to help.”

The award comes with $10,000 for Kroeger to use as she sees fit for her school. “I’ve been talking with my second grade team and the school principal for ideas,” she said. “I’m still brainstorming. I like the idea of STEM kits, field trip opportunities, etc.”

Teaching second graders can be full of surprises, said Kroeger. “We had a guest speaker in the classroom talking about continents and countries. The guest speaker asked my students what the capital of Utah was. I was really impressed that so many students were eagerly raising their hands to answer the question since state capitals are not part of our curriculum. I assumed the students must have recalled the information when I casually mentioned it while showing a map of the state.”

The guest speaker called a student and again asked, “OK, what is the capital of Utah?” she said. “The student proudly replied, ‘The letter U!’ My students then gave the ‘I agree/I have the same answer’ signal (showing that they all had the same answer) while the guest speaker just looked baffled. I then smiled and jumped in and said, ‘Yes, Utah begins with a capital U.’”