FARMINGTON—Knowlton Elementary special education teacher Shaunee McFadden thought she was just taking her class to a school assembly Tuesday morning until Principal Jeri Thomas announced she was the recipient of the Heidi Martin Mighty Heart Educator of Excellence Award. McFadden walked to the podium in disbelief through a sea of children cheering and clapping.

Davis Education Foundation presented McFadden with a check for $10,000 that she can choose how to use to help the school and her students.

“I’m excited to be here because you have an amazing teacher in your school,” said Kara Toone, director of Davis Education Foundation. “Out of all the teachers in our whole school district – we have thousands of teachers – only one teacher can have this award.”

This award recognizes educators who lead with heart and determination, she said. “Shaunee McFadden's commitment to her students and their families reflects the very spirit of this award.”

The Heidi Martin Mighty Heart Educator of Excellence Award is named in Heidi’s honor for her resilience and courage while facing significant health challenges. 

Martin was born with only two chambers in her heart. When she was just three days old, she received her first heart transplant and went on to live 29 years. Martin had years of surgeries and hospital stays but despite that, she graduated from Weber State University with honors and became a registered nurse at McKay-Dee Hospital in Ogden, dedicating her life to caring for others, a Foundation release said.

Martin later underwent a combined heart and liver transplant, which was very rare at the time. In 2017, she passed away. This award is given in her name to educators who show the same strength and heart she had throughout her life. 

“The teachers in Davis School District are pretty special,” said Superintendent Dr. Dan Linford. “We know the students are pretty special here too. You have amazing teachers who work so hard every day and we just simply are not very successful without amazing teachers who teach amazing kids.”

“She’s been working here for four years,” said Thomas. “But she went back to education as a second career.”

She loves the children, Thomas said. “She wants to help those who struggle to find their niche and to succeed and she’ll do whatever it takes. From sun up to sun down she’s here six days a week.”

“I never thought anything like this would happen,” said McFadden. “I’m a special education teacher so I’ve always looked for things that children and students would like and enjoy.”

The connection is first, she said. “The relationship is also first and then you build from there.”

McFadden was in health care administration before taking a different direction into education. “I had two children that had special needs,” she said. “One was in resource and the other one ended up going through a learning center. He will be with us for a while.”

This is a second career, said McFadden. “It was because of my children.”

McFadden said she didn’t know yet what she would use the money for. “It will benefit the kids, 100 percent.” 

“She’s been helping me with reading, math and everything else,” said sixth grader Ethan Wellings. “She’s been teaching for a while and I feel like she definitely deserves this. She’s focused on working. She doesn’t take many breaks and stuff. She’s kind and she works well with kids.”