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Excellent Educator: St. Michael Elementary's Jenny Hill

ST. MICHAEL, Minn. (WCCO) -- This morning, the WCCO Morning Show is honoring another excellent educator in the metro who has gone above and beyond to make a difference in students' lives.

School can be tough for any child, especially those with disabilities. But a local elementary school teacher who lives with a disability is doing her part to change that.

Jenny Hill is a media specialist at St. Michael Elementary School, and an active advisor for the St. Michael-Albertville Special Olympics team.

Hill's mother Christine is a teacher as well.

"Sincerely, she loves her kids," said Christine Hill. "I know it's important to her to try to educate people to know how to treat someone with a disability. Because I think she had a hard time, and by teaching others, they can go out and help others."

Jenny Hill was born with Cerebral Palsy, and says growing up different has motivated her to teach acceptance in school and in the community.

Aimee Libby nominated Jenny Hill for the award, praising her transparency and openness as an educator in discussing and teaching children about her disability.

Jenny Hill said that often the first thing people ask her is, "What's wrong with you?" And she tells her students that the more appropriate question to ask would be, "What's your name?"

One other fun fact: Jenny Hill's principal was her teacher in elementary school.

You can nominate a deserving educator by going to the WCCO Morning Show's Facebook page, telling us their name and why they should be WCCO's Excellent Educator of the week.

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