Helps Students Avoid Misinformation: La Grange Hero

LA GRANGE, IL – When times are tough, heroes emerge. We all know someone who's making a difference right now as we live through unprecedented and changing times.

Here at Patch, we've launched an initiative to help recognize these heroes making a difference in their communities. We’re working to let all your neighbors know about these outstanding people and their stories.

This submission comes from Ann Pitcher, who nominated Sandra Metcalfe of La Grange. They work together.

Local hero’s full name

Sandra Metcalfe

Local hero’s home state

Illinois

Local hero’s Patch

La Grange

How do you know the local hero?

Professional relationship - we work together

What does the local hero do?

She is a health educator, which means she provides sexual health and drug/substance abuse prevention education to students in grades 4-8.

Why do you believe the local hero should be recognized or honored?

Sandi teaches approximately 2,400 students each school year in the Chicago area. She is amazingly talented in working with students with disabilities and those without. Teaching sexual health and drug/substance use prevention programming to both of these groups requires a unique combination of knowledge and a way of putting audiences at ease. Recently, with more students getting information online, she has been navigating more misinformation that students present to her and responding carefully and factually with science-based information. As a mom, she is passionate about giving students the tools they need to make healthy decisions about their bodies and using substances. Her favorite grades to teach are 4-5, and she believes that's the right age to start these conversations.

What's one thing you want everyone to know about the local hero?

Sandi is a passionate, devoted advocate of empowering students with science-based facts, so they can make healthy decisions now and into the future.

Thank you for all you do, Sandra Metcalfe!

This content is brought to our community in partnership with T-Mobile.

Know someone making a difference in town?

Nominate them here.