Congratulations to
National Teaching Award Nominee
Lisa Dunster
Little Miami Junior High School, Morrow, Ohio
Student Nomination Story
It was the first day of eighth grade. I walked into Lisa Dunster's classroom for the first time I had no idea what I was walking into. It had been a crazy few months. My district had not been in school since March due to the Covid 19 pandemic, and on that first day Mrs. Dunster seemed to have a lot of energy but didn't seem like anything out of the ordinary. I was so wrong about that. While I didn't realize it then I was walking into the classroom of the best teacher at Little Miami Jr high. Mrs. Dunster is so great I honestly had a huge task as I sat down to write this. How can I put everything she has done into words? I am just going to wing it and do my best, I suppose. The first time I nominated a teacher for an award was last year where I did this exact same thing and I didn't think I would find my self in this same spot again but here I am. I have gone through a lot in the past year, I have dealt with Mental illness and a suicide attempt so this has not been easy for me and Covid certainly did not help. I remember my first day back at school after being hospitalized I was not excited and was so scared I cried walking into school that morning. It was in the middle of the day when I was in Mrs. Dunster's class and I remember just being really nervous during our study hall. I just had my head in my hands trying to calm down and Mrs. Dunster came up to me and took me up to her white board and behind it was this bucket of stress balls and she said, " You seem nervous. Do you think maybe one of these could help? You can use it during class and even take it home if you would like. You can also just leave it on my table and you can come and get it whenever you need it. She then proceeded to walk me through some of the different ones and had me choose one. I didn't really ever need it after that day but it still sits in it's place on her table in case I do. During that same day, I took a break from class and after I came back Mrs. Dunster walked back to my desk and places a post it note and it said. "you are valuable, you matter, please stay. I am so glad to have you back and know that it is not easy but I promise it will get better." It brought tears to my eyes. I still have that note in my room to this day and it always makes me smile. As if she already had not done enough that day she pulled me aside after class and was even kinder. She told my about some of her own personal experiences and how worth it it is to stay. She told me all of these good things that happened to her and what she could have missed. I will never forget her words. She is not just like this to me she is like this to every student. She has us fill out a survey each day so she can now how we are feeling emotionally and she always tries to do anything she can to make it better. On a Zoom before winter break at a time when my school was on remote she just said to us all "just know that if you need anything over break my email is always open and I will respond. She is truly there for her students out side of school as well. She said to us all one time If you guys need anything, I am here. If you need someone to just listen while you vent, I am your person. If you need advice feel free to ask. If you want to talk over lunch you know where my room is. Mrs. Dunster also just has so much passion and energy in doing her job. You would think she chugged multiple energy drinks before class. She is just so excited to see us. One time while on a zoom we were turning in these essays that we had been working on for like a month and I kid you not she did a different celebration dance for every student who turned it in. Me and some friends of mine who have her still talk about it. She was so excited . She is so great at teaching us. She is not just teaching us language arts she is teaching us about the real world. We are working on a huge project that we get to research any topic we choose and she is right there with us helping us through it. This project has even been the reason that some of her past students are in the careers they are in. She also just teaches us life knowledge and safety. Another amazing thing about Mrs. Duster is she actually served in the military and was deployed to Saudi Aribia for a time in her life. She is also a defendant of this country aside from being a teach. She came back from being deployed and she took all of her hardships and started a nonprofit to help other military families heal and reconnect. She has such a bid heart. Mrs. Duster is also just straight up hilarious! She always makes jokes and constantly says how we all must think she is crazy. It never gets old. One time I remember her saying that if anyone every tried to attack our class they better pray she does not come for them. She even has a metal bat under her desk just so she defend us because she cares so much. Mrs. Lisa Dunster is so amazing she is making a real impact on every student she teaches and you can really see her touch those around her. She makes class so fun and generally cares. I beg anyone reading this to please take her into consideration for your award she really deserves this. She has been teaching for a long time and has touched so many lives including mine. I am so blessed that there is an angle like Mrs. Dunster in my life. She has made this hard year so much easier for me. Thankyou so much Mrs. Dunster!
Aubrey Ferrell
To see more exceptional teacher nominees, visit The Honor Roll.