September 2013 Winner - Bonnie Khan:(Russell Christian Academy)

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Meridian Star Article

By Terri Ferguson Smith

A teacher's willingness to go above and beyond the call of duty has earned her the recognition of Golden Apple Teacher of the Month.

Bonnie Khan teaches high school math and history at Russell Christian Academy and was surprised during a school assembly recently to learn that she had been singled out for the award.

A parent whose son was tutored by Khan over the summer at no expense to their family was among two people nominating Khan.

Khan drove to the school each day with her own three children — her husband is stationed in Afghanistan — to tutor a young man who had lost some time during the year due to an illness.

His mother wrote: "Her children would sit for several hours while she and my son worked on math. I know of no other person who would voluntarily ask to do this, especially during their summer break … she was insistent not to receive monetary compensation , saying instead, 'This is my calling.'"

As her name was read aloud, students and teachers at the assembly cheered loudly. During the presentation of the Golden Apple Award, Khan received a Golden Apple trophy, a $300 check, a voucher for $1,000 in school supplies and she will automatically be in the running for teacher of the year, which will be announced in May.

Asked to describe her feelings when she realized she was getting the award, Khan said she was shocked.

"My heart started racing and it was like oh my goodness," Khan said. "I can't believe this is actually happening to me."

This is Khan's third year as a teacher, all of which she has spent at Russell Christian Academy. Before that she was a stay at home mom.