WKDQ Teacher of the Month for November 2023

99.5 WKDQ has teamed up with Liberty Federal Credit Union to give you the chance to recognize and thank a teacher in the Tri-State for the work and dedication they put into helping children learn and preparing them for their future.

It takes a special person to be a teacher. While on the surface it appears they only work from 8:00 AM until 3:00 PM each weekday for nine months out of the year, there's much more to it than that. There are papers to grade and lesson plans to make, both of which usually happen after the regular school day is over, and sometimes into the late evening hours at home. I've had a front-row seat to all of it as my wife has been a teacher for over 20 years.

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But it's much more than just performing the day-to-day responsibilities. Great teachers truly care about each and every one of their students as if they were their own kids and not only understand each one is unique in their own way in how they learn and behave but must use that knowledge to create the best possible plan for helping that student reach their full potential. A great teacher is also someone who can provide sympathy or a shoulder to cry on when a student is having a bad day and be that student's biggest cheerleader when they're having a great one inside or outside the classroom.

99.5 WKDQ Teacher of the Month Winner for November 2023

One teacher who checks all those boxes is Miranda Weinzapfel, a fourth grade teacher at Tekoppel Elementary on Evansville's west side who was nominated by Samantha Sperling. Here's what Samantha says makes Mrs. Weinzapfel so special:

Mrs. Weinzapfel has blown me away. My son has ADHD and can be hard to control. She was so patient, and understanding, and communicated with me every time there was an incident. She never judged or treated him differently. She always went out of her way to make sure he understood the school work and praised him with notes to let me know how good he did. She is just hands down the best teacher he has had so far!

Congratulations to Mrs. Weinzapfel, and thank you for the work you do for your students. It clearly doesn't go unnoticed.

Nominate a Teacher to Be Our Next Teacher of the Month

If you know a teacher who deserves to be our next Teacher of the Month, nominate them using the form below. If chosen, they'll receive a flower arrangement from Zeidler's and a $50 gift card from the Copper House Restaurant on Franklin Street.