Kelsey Bender Receives Sanford Award
Photo courtesy of The Morning News.
January 1, 2019
Kelsey Bender, Blackfoot High Schools Professional Technical Education
Agriculture teacher, has been awarded Idaho’s 2018 Sanford award.
The Sanford awards come from the Sanford programs. The awards started, because they wanted to reward teachers around the country that inspire students.
“I can tell Mrs. Bender really cares about her students and is definitely very invested in them as a person. I like her approach in teaching,” Ady Wixom (12) said.
Every year 51 teachers, one out of every U.S. state, are chosen as a Sanford winner. Teachers are nominated by their colleagues and voted on by a committee of educators.
Nominations were closed on November 1, 2018 and all winners of the award were invited to attend a special celebration in their honor.
“She’s funny, likes to get work done, and sensitive. She’s better than most science teachers; She knows what she’s talking about. I really like how she gets into everything she teaches, she’s just a great teacher overall,” Jade Velasquez (12) said.
Bender will be awarded a $10,000 grant for winning the award.
It was no surprise to students when Bender received the award, because she is a greatly admired teacher.
“She’s always really nice to me and whenever I’m having a rough time in advisory she makes sure I’m okay,” Ashley Trappet (12).
Meghan Wray • Feb 20, 2019 at 11:40 am
I’m glad that someone from our school could receive such a big honor, especially Mrs. Bender! She’s a wonderful teacher and definitely cares about not only her students but what she teaches as well. Congratulations to her!
Jess Palmer • Feb 4, 2019 at 10:06 am
I love Bender! She’s a fantastic teacher, and she totally deserves this award.
Josie Neihart • Jan 24, 2019 at 3:08 pm
I absolutely loved this article. Where as Mrs. Bender is a new teacher and this is only her 2nd year of teaching, I’m incredibly proud to be a student at BHS where a teacher knows what she needs to do to provide an educational environment.