October Kitchen - September 2019

Amazing Stories About 2 Amazing Teachers Best Teachers in the World

When her class scheduled a three-day camping trip, Maggie, who has cerebral palsy, thought she wouldn’t be able to go. Her walker couldn’t navigate the rough wilderness. But then her teacher, Helma Wardenaar, stepped in to save the day. The educator from The Academy for Global Citizenship in Chicago used her own money to buy a $300 harness to carry Maggie on the trip. Ms. Wardenaar carried Maggie on the 45-minute hike to the campsite and two hours every day so Maggie could explore the forest with the rest of the class.

Teachers have an incredible ability to change a child’s life for the better. Here are a few stories about educators who truly deserve that “Best Teacher in the World” mug. In Lieu of Flowers Tammy Waddell was a teacher to the end. In 2018, Ms. Waddell, an elementary school teacher in Georgia, passed away after battling cancer. Instead of flowers, Ms. Waddell requested her friends, family members and colleagues donate school supplies for students in need. Her loved ones honored her wishes.

“It was kind of heavy, but I’m strong and didn’t want to give up,” Ms. Wardenaar

At Ms. Waddell’s funeral, dozens of backpacks filled with school supplies lined the aisle of the church. Over 100 teachers served as honorary pallbearers, carrying the backpacks out of the church and back to their schools for students who needed them. The Best Field Trip Ever Field trips are a cherished part of childhood, but children with

told People magazine. “Whenever I had moments when I was tired or huffing and puffing, she would sing songs or say positive words to me.” Thanks to Ms. Wardenaar’s dedication, Maggie was able to enjoy the whole trip with her classmates.

Don’t forget to thank the teachers in your life for the difference they make every day.

special needs often miss out on the fun. This was almost the case for Maggie Vasquez, a 10-year-old girl from Chicago.

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national officer and was one of only two HERO representatives on the executive committee. That was one of the best experiences of my life. Being a young person with such a huge leadership responsibility helped me grow in ways I would have never experienced otherwise. That wasn’t the end of Mrs. Dembeck’s influence. She would push me to enter a nationwide competition for HERO students that resulted in me winning a full-ride scholarship to Johnson and Wales University. When I say Mrs. Dembeck made me who I am today, I’m not exaggerating. She taught me so much beyond just cooking in the kitchen. She taught me to have respect for my ingredients, respect for others and confidence in myself. Lucy Dembeck was an absolutely terrific mentor to me and I owe her many thanks. Over the years, I’ve been fortunate enough to work with some of Lucy’s other students. Once, a young woman came in to interview for a job at October Kitchen and when I found out she was one of Mrs. Dembeck’s students, I hired her on the spot. Mrs. Dembeck knows how to train greatness.

AUTUMN APPLE ALISON SWEATER

LEAVES CIDER PAUL TOUCHDOWN

HOMECOMING STEPHANIE

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