2016 Spirit of America nominee: Diana Valleroy

NOMINATING ORGANIZATION: Central Middle School/Jennifer G. Stevens

NOMINEE'S CHURCH, CHARITABLE AND SOCIAL MEMBERSHIPS: Diana is a member of VFW Aux. Post 2210 (Ste. Genevieve), Kiwanis/KKids (a service organization through CMS), Mission Possible, and she conducts science programs for the public library when they need her.

WHY DO YOU BELIEVE THIS NOMINEE DEMONSTRATES THE SPIRIT OF AMERICA?

Diana has been teaching for 22 years. The last 15 have been at CMS. As a sixth-grade teacher, she goes so far above and beyond what she has to. She instills a love for learning and demonstrates a love for community service for all the students she teaches. Diana has been completing community service projects with her students and the students of CMS for as long as I can remember. Each year, Mrs. Valleroy organizes community service projects for each class or team to complete. Some of these projects include soup in a jar, ranch potatoes in a mug, 3-D snowflakes and Easter baskets filled with eggs and candy, and students make cards for patients at the local hospitals and nursing homes year round. Mrs. Valleroy also has fundraisers to help cover the cost of care packages that she sends to our local military who are serving overseas. She started this endeavor in 2006-2007. She has sent countless packages full of goodies and cards to people who are serving our country. She has received many cards back from our troops telling her how much the words of encouragement from the kids mean to them. Diana is a selfless person. She does all these things not wishing to be acknowledged for any of them. She does them because she truly cares for others and always puts them first. She is a great role model for our students, and I am proud to call her my colleague and friend.