QUINCY (WGEM) – Meg Benner of Quincy’s St. Dominic School was awarded the WGEM Golden Apple Award.
Benner has been an educator for more than 30 years, the majority of that time has been at St. Dominic. She currently teaches third grade.
“Third grade, that’s when they become independent more so at the end of the year. They become responsible for their work and get excited about learning,” Benner said.
Benner says over her career she’s often been inspired by her students.
“You just never know what to expect each day so it’s kind of fun. What they bring to the table is awesome. There’s always something creative and they always make my lesson better than I ever anticipated it would be,” Benner said.
Benner made such an impact on her former, now fourth grade students, that they along with their current teacher Katie O’Neal created a book containing dozens of Golden Apple nominations.
“Meg is.. she’s always playful, she’s always light, she’s thoughtful. She brings you chocolates on the hard days,” O’Neal said describing Benner.
“She’s loving, caring, kind and helpful.” fourth grader Claire Holbrook said.
“She likes to compliment you when you first come into her classroom,” fourth grade student Cora Frazier said.
The nomination letters highlighted Benner’s creative and fun classroom lessons.
“I get these ideas and some of them are a little hair brained, but they do make it better. I can just give them an idea and they make it so much better they are like let’s try this,” Benner said.
For former students, one innovative idea in particular stands out.
“When we were in third grade we made pinball machines and I still have mine,” Fraizier said.
“I wrote that I like making pinball machines,” Bruns said.
“The first ones were a little iffy we had shoe boxes and we got better. It kind of blossomed through the years. And, you know what sometimes they don’t work and that’s what I like to see because they come back and they redo and they talk to one another about what works and what doesn’t,” Benner explained.
O’Neal says Benner is a mentor to her, helping her grow as an educator. And, when her son was a student in Benner’s classroom a few years ago, O’Neal says she saw Benner spark curiosity and growth in him too.
“She sees the whole him and she loved and appreciated all the gifts he had and in the areas he needed to grow she helped gently push him to grow too,” O’Neal said. “She’s the person that really loves and cares for all of us, adults and kids.”
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