MASON CITY, Iowa - Amy Gapinksi was nominated by one of her students’ parents and was overjoyed to receive the honor.
"Coming from the families it means a lot,” says Gapinski.
For the past six years she has been teaching kids about ABC's, numbers and career fields they would like to go into.
"A police officer and an engineer,” says students Kellen Orman and Henry Fischler.
"We are here to meet the needs of the kids, get them going on their learning and get them excited about learning but their first teachers are their parent at home,” says Gapinski.
And her students and fellow staff members agree.
"I love that she helps us learn and I love she lets us go out for recess,” says Orman.
"She is very patient, she is a leader amongst her peers, she inspires the staff at Jefferson to be more creative and think outside of the box,’ says Lindsey Millsap, Principal.