BOTKINS – Sybil Koenig, a third-grade teacher at Botkins Local School, was selected as an Ohio Lottery Partners in Education Teacher of the Month for February.

“I think that Mrs. Koenig is well deserving. She works really hard at what she does,” Botkins Elementary Principal Chris Abke said. “She puts the students first in all of her decisions and all of her plans. She makes sure that students get what they need, and she doesn’t stop until that’s accomplished. She’s just really persistent in wanting to help kids and making sure that they get what they need.”

The Partners in Education program, which began in 2007, honors kindergarten through 12th grade students and teachers throughout Ohio. Each month one student and one teacher from each of the Ohio Lottery’s nine geographic regions are randomly selected from a pool of nominees for Teacher of the Month and Academic All Star awards.

“I think it’s a great thing they do to recognize the teachers,” Abke said. “Any time they recognize a teacher for that is great.”

To be eligible for the Teacher of the Month award, teachers must display excellence in the classroom, motivation, leadership, community service, creativity and imagination, dedication and communication. Nominations can come from students, parents, school administrators, fellow teachers and others.

As a Teacher of the Month winner, Koenig will receive a certificate of excellence, a $75 Visa gift card, Ohio Lottery Partners in Education merchandise and her name and information on the Ohio Lottery’s website.

Botkins Local School celebrated Koenig’s award by congratulating her on its social media accounts and displaying congratulatory messages on monitors throughout the school.

“I feel very blessed with all of the teachers here and what they do for kids and how hard they work for kids,” Abke said.

For more information about the Partners in Education program, visit www.ohiolottery.com/About/Partners-in-Education.