Mason City teacher recognized with statewide award

(ABC 6 NEWS) – A first-grade teacher in Mason City is being recognized with a statewide award for teaching.

Tracie Dedor teaches at Hoover Elementary, and she has been selected to receive the Iowa State Education Association’s 2022 Excellence in Education Award.

Dedor was nominated for this award by one of her coworkers for what she teaches her kids. Spanish, sign language, and multicultural activities.

She is overjoyed that she got selected for this, but this teacher is just doing what she does best, which is being there for her kids no matter what.

"Even though I received the award, all teachers are unique just like our kids, and all teachers deserve the recognition. But also that we all work together in a village to help the kids become who they are," Dedor said.

Dedor calls her students scholars, which helps demonstrate to them that they are more capable than what they might believe.

"I want them to know and feel that they are special and feel that they are special and be proud of themselves. We say a poem every day, at the end of the day, to remind them that they are amazing, they’re important, they’re special, they’re unique, they’re precious, they’re kind, they’re loved. So they can leave here knowing those things," Dedor said.

So as the kids finish their school day, they leave with what they learned from the day. From their books, and from this teacher’s heart.

Dedor will be honored at the ISE Summer Leadership Conference in August.