Renfro Elementary School teacher Stephanie Ralston’s email signature is, “kids don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” This devotion to her students earned Ralston the Edward Jones Unit 10 Teacher of the Month award for April.

Rick Kincheloe, of Edward Jones, watches as Stephanie Ralston is embraced by a throng of adoring students after being presented with the Unit 10 Teacher of the Month award for Apri, 2014 / Photo by Laura Bauer

Ralston makes a connection with her students and truly cares about every one them, Renfro Principal Laura Bauer said. In addition to eating lunch with her students every Friday, Ralston is also willing to learn new teaching strategies and try them in class.

Ralston is also a Girls on the Run coach. The national organization uses running and interactive tools to help 3rd through 8th grade girls gain confidence through accomplishment and establish a lifetime appreciation of health and fitness, according to the organization’s website.

The impact she has on her students is reflected in the answers Ralston’s students gave about why she deserved to be Teacher of the Month. “She teaches us really well and never gives up on us until we understand,” a student said. Another called her “inspirational,” while yet another said, “she gives us all the love she can.”

The second-year teacher’s devotion goes beyond her students. “She volunteers to help out in any way she can to support her colleagues and the school,” Bauer said.

Laura Bauer contributed to this story.