Webber Elementary fourth-grade teacher Pam Kyle had no idea that she was the reason for an afternoon assembly at the school on May 5.
The secret assembly was called so Sam’s Club representatives Wendy Larkin and Renee Graybiel, of the Auburn Hills store, could present Kyle with a check for $1,000 to use for her school as she was named Sam’s Club Teacher of the Year.
Kyle was nominated, along with nearly 200 other teachers in the Auburn Hills store district, by a former student, Rachael McDonald, now a fifth-grader at Webber. She and her mother Ellyn were there to help present a giant check to Kyle when she learned in front of the whole school that she had won.
‘I’m very surprised,? Kyle said. ‘I’m very touched that I can make a difference.?
Kyle said she had no idea she had even been nominated and that she would be discussing with staff how to spend the $1,000 for Webber.
‘There’s a lot of stuff we could do with it,? she added.
Larkin said each Sam’s Club is given $1,000, funded by Walmart, to give to a Teacher of the Year, every year.
Anyone can fill out a ballot nominating a teacher who has made a difference to them.The teacher is chosen based on their dedication, love of teaching and inspiration they’ve provided to their students.