HIGHLAND, Ill. – There wasn’t much going on this week at Highland Elementary school with summer vacation underway. But that didn't stop a parent from writing an email to 5 On Your Side about an amazing third grade teacher named Kari Wise.
“Truthfully, I think it's part of the job to help these kids, be a big part of their lives. We're in the classroom with them for 9 months,” said Wise. “It's hard not to get attached, especially when a child has an illness or a surgery, you do everything you can to help them.”
One of Wise’s third grade students Colton Sallee had arm surgery during the school year.
“I'm going to be able to do this and this with both hands and I couldn't do that before,” said Sallee.
Sallee’s class sent drawings and get well wishes and then there was Kari's bag of sunshine.
“I made him a little care package,” said Wise.
“Everything in it was like golden and stuff,” said Sallee. “I got golden Oreos, yellow lemonade packets, it was awesome.”
It's been five years since Abby Schrage was in Wise's class.
“She's a really great person,” said Schrage. “I'm so glad I met her and had her as third grade teacher.”
Since then, Schrage has been treated for two brain tumors and a bone marrow transplant. Wise watches Schrage’s siblings, on a regular basis, while she goes for treatment.
“Whenever I have an appointment she takes them to her house to swim in her pool,” said Schrage. “Me and mom and dad can just go appointment without having to worry about those monkeys.”
“She was watching the kids every other week. Took the kids on vacation with them, they were out swimming, she's actually to the point where we're part of the family and we are so blessed to know her,” said Abby’s mother Jill Schrage.
“Just this past school year I told my husband I'm going to cut my hair off this summer and I'm going to let Abby do it,” said Wise. “So, on June 5, Abby came up to my hairdresser and cut my ponytail off.”
“Her face at the end of that video is just priceless,” said Wise.
“She helps us a lot and I couldn't be more grateful,” said Abby.
When you go the extra mile it's never crowded, but it is appreciated.
“If you want to see a positive change in the world, be the positive change and she embodies every factor of that,” said Jill.
“Does it teach the kids to be nice and kind to others? Does it teach the kids to help others? Absolutely,” said Wise. “And yes, I think it's part of the job.”
A job well done. Wise has been teaching for more than 30 years.
