Reider is Watson’s Class Act teacher

By SARAH FOOR

sfoor@vindy.com

In her Watson kindergarten classroom, Trish Reider is a talkative teacher. However, on the morning of Jan. 30, she found herself in a shocked silence when she was surprised with a visit from Mark Monstrola and 21 WFMJ cameras to honor her with a Giant Eagle Class Act Award.

Teachers nominated by students, colleagues, or parents, are profiled each week by WFMJ Today for being exceptional educators.

Denise Fedorek nominated Reider after seeing a positive change in her daughter, kindergartner Mary Fedorek.

“Since my daughter started kindergarten, her learning has taken an enormous advancement. She is reading to me nightly, and imitates Mrs. Reider to teach her younger sister,” Fedorek wrote in her nominating letter.

Monstrola surprised the teacher during an early morning class with balloons and a congratulations.

Reider and her kindergartners joined Monstrola to tape a segment telling the WFMJ audience to watch for Reider’s segment the coming Wednesday, and then the group let out a big cheer.

Even after her classroom was free of television cameras, Reider was still smiling widely.

“I lost my words, I was so shocked. On TV, my reaction will be the textbook definition of surprise, because I was not expecting this in the least. I am so honored and thankful for the prize,” she said.