99.5 WKDQ has teamed up with Liberty Federal Credit Union to give you the chance to recognize and thank a teacher in the Tri-State for the work and dedication they put into helping children learn and preparing them for their future.

It takes a special person to be a teacher. While on the surface it appears they only work from 8:00 AM until 3:00 PM each weekday for nine months out of the year, there's much more to it than that. There are papers to grade and lesson plans to make, both of which usually happen after the regular school day is over, and sometimes into the late evening hours at home. I've had a front-row seat to all of it as my wife has been a teacher for over 20 years.

WOMI-AM logo
Get our free mobile app

But it's much more than just performing the day-to-day responsibilities. Great teachers truly care about each and every one of their students as if they were their own kids and not only understand each one is unique in their own way in how they learn and behave but must use that knowledge to create the best possible plan for helping that student reach their full potential. A great teacher is also someone who can provide sympathy or a shoulder to cry on when a student is having a bad day and be that student's biggest cheerleader when they're having a great one inside or outside the classroom.

WKDQ Teacher of the Month for September 2023

One teacher who checks all those boxes is Lauren Batten, a Kindergarten teacher at Good Shepherd Catholic School in Evansville who was nominated by Diane Hayden. Here's what Diane had to say about how Lauren:

She is so kind and welcoming to all her students. You can see the love she has for her students as if they were her own. She works very hard to make her classroom fun but structured to learn. Mrs Batten is an amazing teacher who deserves to be recognized for her love of teaching.

Congratulations to Mrs. Batten, and thank you for the work you do for your students. It clearly doesn't go unnoticed.

Nominate a Teacher to Be Our Next Teacher of the Month

If you know a teacher who deserves to be our next Teacher of the Month, nominate them using the form below. If chosen, they'll receive a flower arrangement from Zeidler's and a $50 gift card from the Copper House Restaurant on Franklin Street.

LOOK: Best public high schools in Indiana

Stacker compiled a list of the best public high schools in Indiana using 2023 rankings from Niche.

See How School Cafeteria Meals Have Changed Over the Past 100 Years

Using government and news reports, Stacker has traced the history of cafeteria meals from their inception to the present day, with data from news and government reports. Read on to see how various legal acts, food trends, and budget cuts have changed what kids are getting on their trays.