Teachers Who Go Above and Beyond the Job

A Lesson In Anatomy

Debby Heerkens is a biology teacher in the Netherlands for young students. She was working out new, imaginative ways to capture her student’s attention when she thought of an unconventional method: dressing up wearing an anatomically accurate spandex suit that illustrates all of the muscles of the body. Behind that illustration is another that shows the bone structure of the human body. Ms. Heerkens stood on a table during an anatomy lesson and revealed her clever outfit, showing the class her unique spandex suit. The students appreciated the humor of the situation and did indeed pay more attention.

No River Wide Enough

Elizabeth Miranda, a teacher living in the Philippines teaches students in Sitio Barogonte, an extremely remote village that is difficult to reach. Yet Miranda is determined to teach these students, who are just as determined to learn. So each day, Miranda walks two hours through the jungle, crossing no less than five rivers, to reach the students in the Sitio Barogonte village. Miranda hopes that her actions not only benefit her students, but that it may spread throughout the local communities to encourage education to be available and achievable. She hopes that her dedication can bring education to more kids than the ones she teaches.