FAIRFIELD, Ohio — School officials surprised a southwest Ohio teacher with the Teachers of Ohio Representing Character and Heart (TORCH) award from the Ohio Department of Education on Monday.

ODE honored five Ohio teachers with the award who represent character and heart.

What You Need To Know

  • Sandra Stegman is one of five Ohio teachers to be awarded the TORCH award

  • The award focuses on teachers that represent character and heart

  • Stegman's principal saw the description of the award and knew she had to nominate Stegman

  • Stegman was surprised at a faculty meeting with the award

Kindness is a common theme in Sandra Stegman’s fifth-grade classroom at Central Elementary School in Fairfield — making sure everyone belongs and loved.

But little did she know the plan to recognize her devotion to her kids. In a surprise ceremony, school officials gave Stegman the TORCH award, recognizing her character and heart for teaching.

Sandra Stegman (center) receives a congratulations after receiving the TORCH award at a faculty meeting. (Katie Kapusta/Spectrum News 1)

“I’m usually not speechless, but I am speechless,” Stegman said. “It just warms my heart. Everything you go through as a teacher, it’s worth it.”

Stegman’s principal, Karrie Gallo, nominated her as soon as she saw what the award represented.

“The word heart is what really stuck out to me, based on Mrs. Stegman’s philosophy behind teaching,” Gallo said. “And so I continued to read, and I was like, this is it. I have to nominate her.”

Stegman gave words of advice to her fellow teachers, which brought many to tears.

Sandra Stegman wipes away tears during an award presentation honoring her. (Katie Kapusta/Spectrum News 1)

“You can turn that statistic around,” Stegman said. “You can be that one person in their life. You can have heart, H-E-A-R-T. And it’s hard, H-A-R-D to do that.”

Stegman said she is an example of what the work of a teacher can do. She grew up in the foster care system and teachers were her role models.

“There was always a teacher there to mother me, to help me through,” she said. “So, I wanted to do that also.”

The TORCH award given to Sandra Stegman. (Katie Kapusta/Spectrum News 1)

While she doesn’t teach for the awards, Stegman said it feels good to know she is making a difference.

“You may not see it, but you do make a difference," she said. "And I’m a living example of that.”