NEW WASHINGTON, OH (CRAWFORD COUNTY NOW)—A Crawford County native and longtime teacher at Buckeye Central Elementary School is being honored as Teacher of the Month sponsored by Lewis Family McDonald’s.

Toni Schafer, a second-grade teacher and 14-year veteran of the school district, said she was surprised to find out she received the award and that the nomination came from Cassandra Cole, whose son is one of her former students.

Schafer said she recently reached out to Cole via a new district app after running into her older son at Walmart.  “I poured into their son like I do all of my students,” she said.  “When I found out I thought Oh My God.  I just talked to her three days ago.”

As an educator, Schafer is known for her ability to connect with students – and their parents.  “I work really hard to know my students and lay the groundwork first,” she said.  “I can’t teach them if they don’t trust me.  That’s my philosophy on relationships.”

She also prides herself on building positive relationships with parents.  “I start right away reaching out to families, whatever I need to do to communicate about their kids.  Parents just want to know that you care, that you know their child, and becoming a parent helped me a lot with that.”

Schafer, 38, grew up in Crawford County.  She graduated from Colonel Crawford High School in 2006 and earned a bachelor’s degree from The Ohio State University in 2010 and a master’s degree in elementary education from Ohio State two years later.

It was at Colonel Crawford, however, where she found her career path, thanks to elementary teachers who made learning fun.  When she was hired at Buckeye Central – first as a Title 1 instructor – two colleagues proved to be invaluable sources of wisdom and inspiration.

Schafer said Lynn Kocher, her mentor early on, and Barb Christian, a fourth-grade teacher, helped guide her through difficult times, always lending an ear.  “These two women have been there from the beginning, amazing veteran teachers that always put kids first.”

Schafer also taught fourth grade for 10 years before switching to a second-grade classroom two years ago.  “I loved fourth grade and it was wonderful.  Now I love it in second.  I’ve been asked multiple times, ‘Do you like fourth or second?’ and I really don’t have a preference.”

She and her husband, Joshua, live in Bucyrus with their three children who attend the Wynford Local Schools.  But professionally, she said Buckeye Central has been the perfect fit, thanks also to the building’s social worker, Holly Keller, and continued support from the administration.

“I love it at Buckeye Central.  I have no reason to leave.  They got me first and I have no plans to go anywhere.”