Jeanne Heller

Honoree:
Jeanne Heller

Submitted By:
Bill Heller

I should like to nominate for consideration as a great teacher, Mrs. Jeanne Heller. Mrs. Heller taught as a school librarian/school media specialist in the public elementary schools of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Lincoln County, North Carolina, and Pinellas County, Florida across a span of 30 years. As a school librarian/media specialist she taught every child in every school she served. Early in her career in the early 70’s long before the practice of inclusion for children with disabilities was widespread, Jeanne Heller was welcoming on a regular basis children with a wide range of disabilities into her library/media center.

Mrs. Heller also worked to reinforce the lessons that were being taught by her colleagues in their general education and special education classrooms. She truly was a resource to every teacher in every school she served. Her knowledge of children’s literature was second to none which enabled her to select books for students from the library that aligned with what they were reading and/or being taught in their classrooms. Her library/media center was an integral part of every school where she taught.

The library/media center was always an invitational haven for students. Jeanne made the library a fun place with displays of books and children’s book characters like Madeline, Curious George, Clifford, the Red Dog, the Wild Thing, and Arthur the Aardvark, just to name a few, adding to the inviting environment. The library was truly a “come on in and enjoy” place for reading and learning where books became best friends to students.

Mrs. Heller’s library/media center was always a special place because all children were very special to her and to every child she taught, she too was very special. This is what great terahcers are — very special people and Mrs. Heller was just one of so many others who every day made a difference in the lives of children.

This nomination is even more special to me because Mrs. Heller is my wife.

My thanks for your consideration.

Bill Heller

St. Petersburg, Florida