Each year, WQAD News 8 and Black Hawk Bank and Trust team up to award the five best teachers in our area, nominated by students and selected by last year's winners.
Fifth grader Wyatt Beeding was able to keep a secret.
He nominated his teacher for the "My Favorite Teacher" award and didn't tell he a thing.
That is until he presented her with a trophy during an assembly in Moline's Roosevelt Elementary School's packed auditorium.
"Mrs. Kurtz, you're my favorite teacher."
It's Colleen Kurtz, Wyatt's favorite teacher.
"Thank you Wyatt, how sweet."
Wyatt was born with a hearing disorder.
He started attending Roosevelt when he was just three.
"When he first came here he didn't say any words. He just babbled," his mother Carol told us.
But not any more.
"I like learning about sign language from her," Wyatt said.
Mrs. Kurtz is not only teaching him what every fifth grader gets to know, but she's also giving the one-on-one attention he needs to better learn how to live on his own and better communicate.
"He's getting better at using sign," said Mrs. Kurtz.
"He uses it to receive the language and that is what's important to him."
Mrs. Kurtz says she learned to sign when she was a babysitter, watching after a four year old deaf girl.
That girl taught her a lot.
And for 30-years Mrs. Kurtz brought with her a desire to help those with hearing difficulties better face the world around them.
And Wyatt's mother sees the bond between the two.
"They both have so much energy and I think they feed off of each other."
But that will soon end.
Wyatt has been taught by Mrs, Kurtz for four years And this is his last year before heading to middle school.
"I said it's time for you to go. You need to have a new teacher. You can't have me any more," she kidded.
But the lessons Wyatt learned at Roosevelt will last forever.
Thanks to Mrs. Kurtz.
"She's just, she's the perfect teacher for Wyatt," his mom added.
Both Wyatt and Mrs. Kurtz get a $50 Black Hawk Bank and Trust gift card along with other gifts.