Seneca Valley has a new hero in the classroom.

Amy Broman, an English teacher at Seneca Valley Middle School, recently was recognized by ING Financial Partners as an ‘Unsung Hero.’

As part of the honor, which celebrates the nation’s most innovative teachers, Broman received a $2,000 grant. She is one of only 100 winners across the country to receive the award.

Broman plans to use the money to buy several Apple iPads for her classroom to help implement her idea, “Community of Writers.” The program uses new technology to teach classic writing principles, according to the school district.

She now will compete with other the winners for one of ING's top three prizes—an additional $5,000, $10,000 or $25,000.

Broman was honored Monday during the Seneca Valley school board meeting.

More Recognition

Broman isn’t the only Seneca Valley teacher to be awarded grant money for the classroom.

Courtney Williams and Dana Hadley, both biology teachers at Seneca Valley Middle School, recently were notified they have been awarded a $10,00 grant from the America’s Farmers Grow Rural Education Monsanto Fund.

The teachers plan to use the money to create an outdoor classroom/wildlife observation area near the June Marshall trail behind the middle school, according to the district. There, students will have the opportunity observe organisms in their natural environment.

Williams and Hadley were nominated for the award by a pair of local agriculturalists who have children at the school.