10 Outstanding Teachers Who Have Made Lemonade Out Of Lemons This Past Year

With the past year being such an unusual school year, we want to thank teachers for the awesome work they've done! If you’re a teacher and part of an educational or professional organization, you could save money with GEICO. Click here to see if you qualify for discounts.

Recently, we asked the BuzzFeed Community to tell us about the amazing teachers in their life who have done a great job in the past school year. Here's the teachers they nominated...

1. A teacher in California who utilized her free time to make sure her students could still enjoy theater as an extracurricular.

Silviajansen / Getty Images

"[Emily P.] put together a socially distant show where students could feel and be safe, while still making sure that the students are able to get as much of the live show experience as possible.

She also started an educational video channel at the start of the pandemic to help students struggling with the rapid change of distance learning. She continues making videos for those who need the help and for anyone interested in literature." 

—ashfromhousewares

2. A preschool teacher found a way to connect with her students by wearing clear face masks.

Authentic Images / Getty Images

"My daughter is in preschool and attends speech therapy two times a week. Her therapist recommended to us her teacher wear a clear face mask to help my daughter see lip movements. Our teacher Ms. Cristi didn’t skip a beat and collaborated throughout this entire year with the speech therapist. She agreed to wear the clear face mask and help my daughter through the challenges that come with understanding speech through a mask. I know without this partnership, my daughter would not be where she is now with her speech journey."

—tanyasari

3. A teacher in Florida who went above and beyond by helping a student get their name legally changed.

Maskot / Getty Images

"[My teacher Julee M.] was an amazing advocate for me in getting my legal name changed with the school. She prioritizes her student's mental health above all else and has gone to bat for me in more ways and more times than I can possibly count. She deserves so much. Yet she asks for nothing."

—purplewarriorlife

4. An English teacher in Nevada is motivating her students even in a virtual setting!

Uwe Krejci / Getty Images

"This year has been rough for a lot of us and most of us have lost motivation for school because it has been all online. However, where I struggle in English, I feel like I'm excelling. With our schedule, most teachers have a 10–20 minute lecture period and then we have an hour to do work independently. However, due to our lack of motivation, nothing gets done. Then, we go to Mrs. Thomas's class and she makes us stay the whole time period of our class. And that's where I thought that I would hate it but it has actually been very beneficial to me. She will work stuff through with us and hold us accountable for our work. I can't explain how amazing she's been and I only wish I could be in her class in person."

—morganbrook05

5. A teacher in Utah who raised money on her own to buy books for students due to the library being closed.

Maurizio Siani / Getty Images

"[In addition to that] here are only a few of the many examples of how Danielle M. goes above and beyond her duties of a teacher: She wrote a grant to buy a microphone so that she could make movie trailers for books to help her students engage with the material. She has published articles on welcoming failure in the classroom. She is also part of teacher organizations like Utah Coalition for Education Technology (UCET) and Hope Street Group. 

If you ask any of her students, you would very easily know she is appreciated because she always aims beyond the mark."

—irist47f2040e8

6. An English teacher who throws away judgment to help her students.

Professor25 / Getty Images

"Briana M. is definitely the best English teacher ever! She actually takes the time to get to know her students and she doesn’t judge us. It doesn't matter if you’re a dropout, a teen mom, or someone struggling [with other issues]. I struggle a lot in positions I have no control over at the moment but she always makes sure to help me out."

—reevynsanders45

7. A substitute teacher who went above and beyond with his art students.

Madhourse / Getty Images

"My spouse Marc is a substitute teacher. When COVID-19 hit, he was long-term substitute teacher for high school history and he had to finish the year with the kids online. Then, over the summer, an art teacher going on maternity leave couldn't find a sub so Marc agreed to it and did a phenomenal job! They made sculptures out of items kids had around the house. When kids needed glue guns for their sculptures, we got them donated and Marc drove around to all of the kids' houses dropping off glue guns."

—nikimohr

8. Two innovative teachers who organized a remote French music competition for over 2,000 schools!

Sylvain Sonnet / Getty Images

"Stephanie C. and Michelle F. are middle school teachers who have organized a French music competition since 2017 to help students learn and experience the French language through contemporary music. This year, there were more than 2,000 schools participating, and both students and teachers welcomed this wonderful experience. Students have been able to directly contact and talk to French artists from around the globe and all students — remote, hybrid, or in person — have shared in this remarkable event!"

—swartztd

9. A truly inspiring teacher who supported her students even while she was getting treatment for cancer.

Treemouse / Getty Images

"Jennifer G. is not only an incredible teacher every year, but also this year her true colors have really shined. She's 29 years old and was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer in July. She has never stopped lifting her kids up, supporting them, and giving them the tools necessary for success, even in the hospital or with chemo running through her body. This is only her THIRD year teaching and you would truly think she's been doing it for 30. So grateful to work beside her."

—haleyhenderson21

10. And a kindergarten teacher who wants their colleagues to know that they appreciate their support so, so much!

Jayk7 / Getty Images

"I am a kindergarten teacher. I am not here to write about myself, but rather my entire kindergarten team. I would have been lost without each one of them this year! We have been one another’s complete support system, inspiration, and have worked together to create a program that not only worked remotely, but that also the children and families loved. Michelle T., Bebe Y., Mayela G., Michelle H., and Carolyn W. are truly the most dedicated and hard-working teachers I know. I am so incredibly grateful for my team and the work we do together. They deserve to be recognized! They’re simply the best there is!"

—kmhaim

Note: Submissions have been edited for length, grammar, and/or clarity.

Teachers, thank you for your resilience this year. We appreciate all the hard work that you've done! If you're part of an educational or professional organization, you could save with GEICO. Click here to see if you qualify for special discounts.