Hocker Grove Teacher a Finalist in National Literacy Foundation Contest

Patti Winkler Finalist
Shawnee Mission School District

Patti Winkler, Hocker Grove Middle School social studies teacher, was one of 20 finalists in a nationwide “Help Write Their Life Stories” contest.

Winkler was nominated by a former student who wrote: “History books can be boring, especially to middle schoolers. But Mrs. Winkler made history come alive in her classroom. She was dancing, shouting, and stomping. History, it turned out, was full of entertaining stories. She made history matter to her students through reading.”

Winkler puts great effort into making social studies relevant to her students, Chris Kase, principal said.

“Mrs. Winkler is so deserving of this award,” Chris Kase, Hocker Grove principal said. “It’s not uncommon to see Mrs. Winkler in a cape or other attire designed to draw students into their lesson for the day. Mrs. Winkler cares about kids and will do whatever it takes to help them be successful in her classroom and beyond.”

Winkler will receive a gift basket from the contest sponsors, Suave and Dollar General, that includes a $250 grant for books and reading materials and a $250 Dollar General Gift Card. The Dollar General Literacy Foundation supports literacy and learning.