Above and beyond. Better than the rest. A+. Heart touchers. Excellent. The bomb. Magnificent. Best ever. Once in a lifetime. Out of this world. Superior. Rare.

Those were the words and phrases used by students to describe our nominees for the 2012 Classroom Hero award. Nearly 550 students turned in nomination forms this year promoting the teachers they felt were worthy of the title.

From bringing goosebumps to tears, their special stories let me know that there are many heroes leading Lodi classrooms!

The forms are now being independently judged by a panel of 7. Once the numbers are in, they will be compiled to determine our 2012 Classroom Heroes! These 2 Heroes (1 representing K-6 and 1 representing 7-12) will be honored at the Lodi Community Band Christmas concert on December 9 at Hutchins Street Square. This community event is free to the public so please come enjoy the jolly music and cheer on these fabulous teachers!

Without further ado, here are you 2012 Classroom Hero nominees:

(List will print in the News-Sentinel tomorrow!)

Primary teachers

Alvia, Yanet

Anderson, Molly

Barth, Kathleen

Bartlam, Nadia

Bennet, Donna

Bravo, Abelina

Breech, Cheryl

Christianer, Mrs

Cotton, Mrs.

Daniel, Kim

Daniel, Liz

Dickinson, Nicole

Donley, Christine

Downy, Cary

Fox, Luann

Fregien, Laurie

Funge, Christopher

Garcia, Heather

Gatti, Angela

Gebhardt, Kathy

Gifford, Mrs.

Gonzalez, Nancy

Greenwood, Ms. Claire

Griffin, Cindy

Guido, Kelly

Gutierrez, Jennifer

Hanson, Natalie

Hardwick, Gay

Hennecke, Susie

Honkala, Phil

Hyske, Ken

Jager, Phyllis

Jay, Kathleen

Johnson, Ammer

Jones, Mary Ann

Jones, Deborah

Kellar, Karol

Klein, Angela

Kreutner, Geraldine

Leach, Melanie

Locke, Lynn

Mandeville, Yvonne

Mann, Jill

Marini, Heather

McGladdery, Martha

McLain, Anne

Morales, Mrs

Nickel, Kim

Ochoa, Lilia

Ortiz, Rose

Peters, Kathy

Phillips, Martin

Pickard, Thida

Pinheiro, Peggy

Rachael, Mrs.

Ramos, Ms. Patricia

Ray, Matthew

Roberts, Terry

Roble, Mrs.

Rostomily, Mrs.

Sampson, Cindy

Schamber,Melissa

Schatz, Kathryn

Schatz, Shelly

Schlader, Michelle

Schmierer, Alicia

Schultz, Hobie

Seefried, Maryann

Shinn, Larry

Shorts. David

Spagnola, Priscilla

Thompson, Ms.

Tornberg, Doug

VanderHeiden, Ben

Weybret, Lorna

Willis, Jennifer

Wold,Jodi

Wood, Carol

Woznick, Rod

Secondary teachers

Alexander, Sherry    

Anderson, Ryan    

Atwater, Jud    

Auerbach, Adam    

Barnes, Rob    

Bartram, Lisa    

Bell, Sandy    

Beskeen, Mark    

Billings, Paula    

Bishop, Emiko    

Blevins, Paige    

Boschee, Tammy    

Britt, Ashleigh    

Buchmiller, Dennis    

Cady, Patricia    

Campbell, Mr.    

Cassel, Jennifer    

Chapman, Neil    

Chisty, Jeanna    

Davison. Melissa    

DeGrandmont, Todd    

Delph, Danielle    

Devine, Greg    

Devine, Kandace    

Dougish, Najwa    

Duran, James    

Fujihara, Gary    

Fuller, Bob    

Funge, Carole    

Garret, Callie    

Gazsi, Jessica    

Goehring, Jessalee

Goodfellow, Sharie

Guevara, Glen    

Guthrie, Paul    

Haas, Gary    

Harmon, Robert    

Heinrich, Ryan    

Hejnal, Kevin    

Hillstrom, Todd    

Hummel, Julie    

Krukis, George    

Lewis, Lynette    

Marceau, Carol    

Mauterer, Katherine    

Mcmartin, Ms Mary    

Mohr, Gary    

Mueller, Alissa    

Nardenelli, Mr.     

Nardenelli, Tom    

Newport, Brent    

Nutting, Dave    

Oesterman, Todd    

Oliver, Randal    

Oram, Isabel    

Petzold, Sharon    

Poggi, Gary    

Radotic, Patty    

Randall, Ms.    

Rishwain, Pat    

Robinson, Curtis    

Rose, Monika    

Sakai, Kevin    

Sayler, Mr.Dave    

Smith, Agatha    

Starr, Sandra    

Steward, Patty    

Taylor, Jennifer    

Taylor, Tarina    

Theilen, Ken    

Tracy, Jeff    

Turner, Melissa    

Turner, Scott    

Wallis, Gary    

Watt, Sean    

Waugh, Suzanne    

Winterhalter, Robert

Winterhalter, Kristen

Wood, Michael    

Wright, Greg    

Zermeno, Chris