Schools
VOTE: Local Educator of the Year Up for Top Honor
Tara Daniher, a teacher at Southwest Elementary School, is in the running for an award from General Motors. Let's vote for the school's Teacher of the Year!
Evergreen Park teacher Tara Daniher, who's known throughout the village as a "special rare gem" is one of four finalists selected for General Motors' Our Town, Our Heroes program.
From now until 5 p.m. CST March 19, the public may vote once a day, every day for their favorite hero at DrivingtheMidwest.com in a special section that will honor Illinois teachers. Click the "Vote for a Finalist" link. The hero will be announced on March 20.
Recently voted the PTA's Educator of the Year, Daniher teaches 5th graders. "What makes her so truly special is that she is incredibly shy," said Katie Elwood, the parent who nominated the Mokena resident. "All of her great deeds are always done in a quiet fashion without ever seeking recgonition or 'thanks.'"
Find out what's happening in Evergreen Parkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
According to Elwood, Daniher recently went beyond the call of duty to help a student in her class whose mother was dying of cancer.
"Tara went out of her way to keep this child on track academically, and more importantly, she was there for this child every step of the way emotionally," wrote Elwood in her nomination. "When his mother passed just a few weeks ago, she stood by his side and even made a special blanket for him so he could feel his mother wrapped around him."
Find out what's happening in Evergreen Parkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
But these are the types of things Daniher does all the time, says Elwood. This year, Daniher is also helping coordinate Southwest Elementary School's St. Baldrick’s Foundation events where students, staff and teachers will come together to shave their heads to raise money for pediatric cancer research.
General Motors launched the Our Town, Our Heroes program in 2011 celebrating unsung heroes who inspire and empower others in their communities. Each month, the program narrows down the nominations and opens voting of the featured finalists to the public to select the winner.
The winning hero who is selected to win and their nominator will receive a one-week loan of an all-new Chevrolet, Buick, GMC or Cadillac vehicle and a full tank of gas. The hero will also receive $500 in gift cards, and the second place winning hero and their nominator will each receive a one-week vehicle loan.
Read Elwood’s description of why Daniher deserves this honor and vote for her at DrivingtheMidwest.com.
