Local named woman teacher of the year

Berger

Lacey R. Stoner Berger, formerly of Delphi, was named the Power of One Teacher of the Year in Grand Rapids, Mich. Berger is a full-day kindergarten teacher at Benton Harbor Charter School Academy in Benton Harbor. She utilized Zoo-Phonics and differentiated instruction to improve the quality of education at the inner-city school.

Although students enter school with little knowledge of letters or numbers, her students read and write at a first-grade level before the end of the school year. "It's an honor to receive this award, considering this is my second year teaching," Berger said. Berger is a 2001 graduate of Delphi Community High

School where she played basketball for four years, coached little girls' basketball and worked at St. Elizabeth Healthcare Center. Berger graduated from Purdue in 2005 with a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education. She is the daughter of Marsha and John Stoner of Delphi.