Miss-Delectable
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Herald Argus
Teacher for the deaf and hard-of-hearing wins H-A Teacher of Month award
LAPORTE -- As teacher Melissa Kitkowski sat in a rocking chair surrounded by a classroom of first graders Tuesday morning, cheery singing was interrupted by an unexpected visit.
Principal Barbara Maitland, LaPorte Community School Corporation administrators and LaPorte County Herald-Argus staffers ambushed the LaPorte teacher at Hailmann Elementary School.
Kitkowski, 28, is the second recipient of The LaPorte County Herald-Argus Teacher of the Month Award.
The 20 children in the classroom sat open-mouthed and wide-eyed as their teacher was given a plaque, flowers and gift certificates. Kitkowski was selected from numerous other teachers in LaPorte County, and was just as surprised by the ambush as her students were.
“Oh my goodness,” she said after the presentation. “I’m very honored and very surprised.”
Kitkowski, a teacher of deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals, assists seven students throughout LaPorte County, and spent Tuesday co-teaching student Jay Seaburg in Katie Haferkamp’s first-grade class at Hailmann. This is Kitkowski’s second year teaching at Hailmann, and seventh year teaching overall.
Kitkowski was nominated for the award by Jay’s parents, Sarah and Ryan. Their son, who arrived 13 weeks premature with his twin brother Grant, was born with cerebral palsy and was unable to hear for the first three years of his life.
With the help of Kitkowski and a cochlear implant, he has become more independent, the Seaburgs wrote in their letter of nomination.
Kitkowski’s day job continues after hours through phone conversations from home, Sarah Seaburg said.
“She’s truly concerned about Jay,” she said by phone from her home Tuesday. “She goes above and beyond what’s required of her. She allows (Jay) to excel in the regular classroom.”
Jay, too, thinks his teacher is pretty special.
“She helps me with my work and writing sentences,” Jay said in class Tuesday.
“He has taught me so much,” said Kitkowski, returning her student’s kind words. “He’s an amazing kid. The steps he makes is my satisfaction and my reward.”
Jay’s fellow classmates also enjoy Kitkowski’s presence.
“She’s special because she’s nice,” 7-year-old Autumn said, smiling with her front tooth missing. “She helps us with math. It’s real easy.”
Sitting next to her, an outgoing 6-year-old, Arieonna, talked endlessly about her teacher.
“She’s helps us with our morning work and stuff,” she said. “She’s pretty.”
Kitkowski was appreciative of the award.
“This makes me feel what I’m doing is the right thing.”
Teacher for the deaf and hard-of-hearing wins H-A Teacher of Month award
LAPORTE -- As teacher Melissa Kitkowski sat in a rocking chair surrounded by a classroom of first graders Tuesday morning, cheery singing was interrupted by an unexpected visit.
Principal Barbara Maitland, LaPorte Community School Corporation administrators and LaPorte County Herald-Argus staffers ambushed the LaPorte teacher at Hailmann Elementary School.
Kitkowski, 28, is the second recipient of The LaPorte County Herald-Argus Teacher of the Month Award.
The 20 children in the classroom sat open-mouthed and wide-eyed as their teacher was given a plaque, flowers and gift certificates. Kitkowski was selected from numerous other teachers in LaPorte County, and was just as surprised by the ambush as her students were.
“Oh my goodness,” she said after the presentation. “I’m very honored and very surprised.”
Kitkowski, a teacher of deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals, assists seven students throughout LaPorte County, and spent Tuesday co-teaching student Jay Seaburg in Katie Haferkamp’s first-grade class at Hailmann. This is Kitkowski’s second year teaching at Hailmann, and seventh year teaching overall.
Kitkowski was nominated for the award by Jay’s parents, Sarah and Ryan. Their son, who arrived 13 weeks premature with his twin brother Grant, was born with cerebral palsy and was unable to hear for the first three years of his life.
With the help of Kitkowski and a cochlear implant, he has become more independent, the Seaburgs wrote in their letter of nomination.
Kitkowski’s day job continues after hours through phone conversations from home, Sarah Seaburg said.
“She’s truly concerned about Jay,” she said by phone from her home Tuesday. “She goes above and beyond what’s required of her. She allows (Jay) to excel in the regular classroom.”
Jay, too, thinks his teacher is pretty special.
“She helps me with my work and writing sentences,” Jay said in class Tuesday.
“He has taught me so much,” said Kitkowski, returning her student’s kind words. “He’s an amazing kid. The steps he makes is my satisfaction and my reward.”
Jay’s fellow classmates also enjoy Kitkowski’s presence.
“She’s special because she’s nice,” 7-year-old Autumn said, smiling with her front tooth missing. “She helps us with math. It’s real easy.”
Sitting next to her, an outgoing 6-year-old, Arieonna, talked endlessly about her teacher.
“She’s helps us with our morning work and stuff,” she said. “She’s pretty.”
Kitkowski was appreciative of the award.
“This makes me feel what I’m doing is the right thing.”