LONG GROVE, Iowa — Each year News 8 receives nominations from students throughout eastern Iowa and western Illinois who want to recognize "My Favorite Teacher." We feature five outstanding educators each year.
For eight years, Taylor Venhorst has been teaching fourth grade at Alan Shepard Elementary School in Long Grove, Iowa. On the day News 8 came to surprise Venhorst with the news that she was one of 2024's My Favorite Teacher award winners, Venhorst was holding a discussion with her class about self-care. Which seemed fitting given the reason she won in the first place.
Student, Sloan Verner, nominated her 4th grade teacher. Though Verner is now in 6th grade and is getting ready to head off to Junior High, the impact Venhorst had on her still remains top of mind to her.
"She's the one teacher that's stuck out to me all these years," Verner said. "In 4th grade I used to get bad anxiety... ever since the day I walked into that classroom I felt like that was my home. [Ms. Venhorst] was like a second mom to me." Verner went on to say.
HOME: a word that can be used as a noun, adjective, adverb or verb. When using it as a noun means, "a place someone lives permanently, especially as a member of a family or household." according to Oxford Languages. To feel like you belong to a family within the classroom has to feel pretty special. Creating the feeling of home cannot be an easy task.
Verner said Venhorst would help her cope with anxiety by helping with breathing techniques among other things like changing her seat to a more comfortable place.
"I couldn't do what I do everyday without students like Sloan." Venhorst said.
News 8's David Bohlman asked Venhorst: Hearing students say things like, "I feel safe in a classroom, what does that make you feel?"
Venhorst responded, "That's my job. Especially in days like today it's so important that students come in and feel safe and welcome."
Venhorst says she wants her students to learn more than just coursework in her classroom.
"To be kind people. I think there are a lot of different influences out there and so I think just to be your own person, make your own choices, do what's best for you and kind of have the kindness radiate off everyone." Venhorst said.
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