Creativity, patience, respect give Aurora teacher
Ohio Lottery honor

AURORA -- Being a first-grade teacher is about more than teaching letters and numbers. It’s about helping youngsters understand independence and respect for others. It requires a lot of energy and more patience than sometimes seems humanly possible.

But Jessika Gonzalez has the knack. She’s a first-grade teacher at Craddock Elementary School in Aurora. According to Tami Mazzella, the school counselor at Craddock, Gonzalez’s students feel “accepted, affirmed and needed in her classroom.” Mazzella adds, “As a counselor, I know how important it is for students to own and experience those feelings.”

The Ohio Lottery knows that, too, and is proud to honor Gonzalez as the January Teacher of the Month for the Akron-Canton area. As Teacher of the Month, Gonzalez will receive four tickets to an upcoming Lake Erie Monsters game, where she will be publicly recognized. She will receive a prize pack of Monsters’ merchandise and assorted Partners in Education merchandise from the Lottery.

“Jessika demonstrates the utmost respect towards the students and always takes the time to be with each one,” Mazzella says. “Even though she follows a routine in her classroom, she allows the students to view change as something to be embraced. She exemplifies excellence in the classroom with motivation, leadership, community service, creativity and imagination, dedication and communication.”

Gonzalez also likes to sing and incorporates singing into all areas of her first-grade curriculum.

The Ohio Lottery will continue to recognize Academic All Stars and Teachers of the Month throughout the school year. For more information about the program and for nomination forms, go to www.Ohiolottery.com.