Decatur Elementary Teacher Named ‘Symetra Hero in the Classroom’

Symetra and the Seattle Seahawks honored Decatur Elementary School teacher Abbey Buchert as a “Symetra Hero in the Classroom” on Nov. 16th during a surprise classroom presentation. Buchert is a 2nd grade teacher at the advanced learning school located in Seattle.

“Abbey Buchert is a truly gifted teacher who knows how to encourage all students to be their very best. She helps her 2nd-graders grow, take risks, evaluate themselves, and work together to build a kind and caring community where everyone has responsibilities to themselves and others. Kids in her class love her deeply and want to work hard because of her unfailing positive attitude toward each of them, toward teaching, and toward their school and community,” said Kjersti Braunstein, a student parent.

“Abbey is one of those teachers who connects with and inspires every student in her class, pushing them to learn at their very best. My kids come home thinking they have had fun all day. She teaches them the basics, but also gets them asking questions. She sets them on a path to explore the world, and then they keep walking and discovering,” said Elizabeth Lunney.

Braunstein and Lunney are among several parents who nominated Buchert for the Symetra Heroes in the Classroom® award.

Buchert is one of 16 K–12 teachers across the Puget Sound area that will be honored for educational excellence in the Symetra Heroes in the Classroom® program during the 2018 NFL season. Honorees are recognized in front of their students and peers at surprise in-school presentations, and Symetra makes a $2,000 donation to each teacher-Hero’s school for classroom books and supplies. Teachers also receive tickets to a Seahawks home game, where they enjoy a pre-game sideline experience and are acknowledged during an on-field presentation at CenturyLink Field. Buchert will be recognized at the Dec. 10 game, when the Seahawks take on the Minnesota Vikings.

Teachers may be nominated by their principal, district staff, student or student’s parent. The honorees are selected based on their ability to make a real difference in students' lives; to go above and beyond in their day-to-day responsibilities; and to help students build life skills.

About Symetra Heroes in the Classroom®

Since 2006, the Symetra Heroes in the Classroom program has honored over 570 K–12 teachers nationwide for educational excellence during the NFL regular season, including more than 250 Puget Sound-area teachers. In addition, Symetra has contributed nearly $950,000 for school books, equipment and programming.

Each of the 16 Puget Sound schools with a 2018 teacher-Hero is eligible to participate in the Symetra Heroes in the Classroom MVP Award, a $20,000 grant in support of innovative student programming. Proposals will go out to eligible schools in early 2019 and the winning submission will be announced at a springtime event at CenturyLink Field for the Heroes, their principals and school district leadership.

For more information about the Symetra Heroes in the Classroom program or to nominate a teacher, visit www.SymetraHeroes.com/Seahawks.

About Symetra

Symetra Financial Corporation is a diversified financial services company based in Bellevue, Washington. In business since 1957, Symetra provides employee benefits, annuities and life insurance through a national network of benefit consultants, financial institutions, and independent agents and advisors. For more information, visit www.symetra.com.