We asked students to submit nominations based on these prompts.

What sets your teacher apart from all the others?
Do they make learning fun?
Have they worked through tough things and still been a great teacher?
Have they helped you overcome struggles and made you feel extra special?

Here is what we received from one of Hope Shelton’s graduated students.

 

“I hope this doesn’t disqualify her, but I WAS a student of Hope Shelton. She has been homeschooling for over 25 years. I am her eldest daughter (34) and am a homeschooling mom myself now. She is the reason I chose to homeschool my sons, and I am the reason she started homeschooling. I have/had dyslexia as a child and struggled in public school. My mom dropped everything and pulled me out so I could actually learn and not get left behind. She has homeschooled me and my 6 younger siblings and is STILL homeschooling 4 of them, with one to graduate this year.

She deserves soooo much praise for her selflessness to continue homeschooling for so long and not give up! She started when it wasn’t “mainstream,” cool, or popular, with little to no support from family or friends starting in the 90s. With lots of life changes over 25 years, she could have easily given up or quit. But she hasn’t!

I believe 4 of my younger siblings have nominated her, but I hope hearing from an adult child (who is following in her footsteps) would get her more consideration.

Please choose Hope Shelton! She deserves it!”