North Elementary honors 'Teacher of the Year' Roach with surprise assembly

Last month, North Elementary School teacher Judi Roach was named the 2016 Teacher of the Year by the Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture, one of two teachers in the state to receive the honor.

Last Friday, she expected to receive the honor through a Skype call in the early afternoon with Courtney Schaardt, manager of outreach education with the foundation. Unfortunately for her, the school had scheduled an assembly in the gym at that same time.

To her surprise, however, Schaardt, along with representatives of the Cheyenne County Farm Bureau and all the school's students and faculty, greeted her as she walked through the door. Roach did all she could to hold back her tears as Assistant Principal Gene Russel informed her the assembly was in her honor.

"Nobody would say what this was about," Roach said. "I had a Skype call in 20 minutes and nobody would say."

The assembly started with a short 90-second video featuring several students congratulating Roach on her honor, with many calling her "the best teacher."

Schaardt then said a few words about Roach, telling the assembly that there was no better teacher than her.

"What she does for ag in the classroom is amazing," Schaardt said. "We are very grateful that she is a part of our program."

After giving Schaardt a big hug, Roach took the microphone and thanked the students.

"I'm not the best teacher in Nebraska," she said. "There's lot of them, and they are all over. All these faces, all these people that you see every day that come and give the most to help you learn about the world."

Roach said she learned from her mother how to be a teacher.

"It happens with our hearts," she said. "Because we want to make a difference for you guys and help you be the best people you can.

"And I've learned from everyone. This isn't Mrs. Roach's award. This is all of our award, you guys, because we make this happen together."

Roach said it has been a pleasure to be a teacher in Nebraska. She said if they can help each other to learn about agriculture in their state, then they can make the most out of their experiences.

"I just thank all of the teachers, and all of the administrators, and all of you (students)," she said. "It's been a great ride, and it wouldn't have been as fun without you guys. It's all about you."

Roach also thanked the Nebraska and Cheyenne County Farm Bureaus, which both had representatives present during the assembly. She concluded by saying that Nebraska is all about agriculture.

"That's what it is at the end of the day," she said. "We have great heart, we are Huskers, but we for gosh darn sure have ag."

The Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture is a nonprofit grassroots organization that works to benefit Nebraska through education service and advocacy.

Roach first participated in the Ag Pen Pal Program in 2012. Her students wrote letters to Jeff and Robyn Huffman, Lincoln County Farm Bureau members and Ag Pen Pals. The students also visited the Huffman Farm.

The experience with the Ag Pen Pal program led to the students creating a show that uses their footage from the field trip to the Huffman Family Farm, and that is shared with students in the first through the fourth grades. Roach still implements the Ag Pen Pal Program with the Huffman Family.

Roach's class also participated in Google hangout sessions with Jeff Huffman, where the students were able to ask him questions.

With the honor, each teacher is awarded with an all-expenses paid trip to the National Agriculture in the Classroom Conference in Litchfield Park, Ariz., which will be held June 20-24. The winners will attend tour of Ag businesses and local farms as well as collaborate with educators from across the country on how to implement Ag in the classroom.