Symetra, SunTrust and the Atlanta Falcons honored Birmingham Falls Elementary School teacher Rebecca Goddard as a “Symetra Hero in the Classroom” on Dec. 4, 2012 during a surprise classroom presentation. Goddard teaches third grade at the Milton elementary school.

“Ms. Goddard was my second-grade teacher, and she made learning fun. She always had funny ways of making rhymes about things that she wanted us to remember. When she said, ‘Your desk is messy, Jessie,” we all knew we’d better clean our desk right away,” said Sydney Fluent, a Birmingham Falls third-grader and former student of Goddard.

“Ms. Goddard would always greet us in the morning as we walked into class by saying, ‘Morning, friends!’ Her classroom was always decorated with stuff we all liked, and she would let us help. She was always so excited to be our teacher that none of us ever wanted to miss class. Even though she isn’t my teacher anymore, I still stop by to see her all the time — and she still calls me her ‘friend.’”

Fluent nominated Goddard for the Symetra Heroes in the Classroom^® award.

“I think I like going to school more because Ms. Goddard taught me that learning is fun and will make me a better person,” said Fluent. “I also want to be a teacher someday just like Ms. Goddard, and I will call my students ‘friends’ and make sure they have the best time so they always want to keep learning.”

Goddard is one of 16 K-12 teachers across Georgia who will be honored for educational excellence in the Symetra Heroes in the Classroom program during the 2012 NFL season. Teachers are recognized in front of their students and peers at surprise in-school presentations, and they receive a $1,000 donation for classroom books and supplies. In addition, they receive tickets to a Falcons home game and are acknowledged during an on-field presentation at the Georgia Dome. Goddard will be recognized at the Dec. 16 game when the Falcons take on the New York Giants.

Teachers may be nominated by their principal, district staff, student or student’s parent. The winners are selected based on their ability to make a real difference in students' lives; to go above and beyond in their day-to-day responsibilities; and to help students build life skills.

More information about Symetra Heroes in the Classroom is available at www.SymetraHeroes.com/Falcons.