Machesney Park Teacher Shows Strength, Kindness & Compassion Every Day

There are teachers who make a difference in the classroom, and then there are teachers who inspire their students simply by the way they live their lives.

That's exactly what makes this week's 97ZOK Teacher of the Week so special.

Meet Doris Pearson from Ralston Elementary in Machesney!

Her nomination came from someone who knows her on a deeply personal level—her sister.  And while the nomination is a beautiful tribute from one sister to another, it also paints a picture of the kind of teacher so many students are lucky enough to have in their lives.

Totw Doris Pearson

Read More: Nominate Your Teacher for Teacher of the Week

She's a teacher who has experienced some incredibly difficult moments, yet continues to show up for the people who need her, bringing kindness, compassion, patience and encouragement with her every day.

Here's the letter her sister, Carrie, sent us:

A Sister, Teacher, and Inspiration

I don’t think there are enough words to describe how amazing of a teacher my sister is. She doesn’t just teach lessons from a classroom—she teaches strength, kindness, patience, compassion, and perseverance through the way she lives her life.

 

After losing both of our parents, she has faced some of life’s hardest storms, yet she continues to stand strong. Even when things are difficult, she keeps showing up, keeps caring for others, and keeps giving her students the love and encouragement they need.

 

Totw Doris Pearson

I am so incredibly proud of the woman, sister, and teacher she is. She has been through storms that could have broken her, but instead, she continues to shine and be a light for so many people. Her students are truly blessed to have her, and I am blessed to call her my sister.

 

You are stronger than you know, and I hope you always remember how many lives you touch simply by being you. I love you and I’m so proud of you.

Totw Doris Pearson

We surprised Mrs. Pearson with some well-deserved gifts from Nothing Bundt Cakes, WM DaySpa Salon, and Benassi Family Dentistry!  Our way of saying thank you for everything she does for her students, the people around her, and the Stateline.

To this week's Teacher of the Week: thank you for showing your students what strength looks like, for continuing to lead with kindness, and for being the kind of person who makes a difference simply by being yourself.

Listen to our full interview with Doris Pearson below!

97ZOK’s Teacher of the Week - Doris Pearson