Excellent Educator: Barbara O'Malley Of St. Paul Music Academy

ST. PAUL, Minn. (WCCO) -- You could call it feel good Friday...that time of the week when we get to celebrate an educator going above and beyond.

This week, it's Barbara O'Malley, a special needs teacher at St. Paul Music Academy in St. Paul.

Her ability to not only make the students feel special, but also other staff members is what makes her this week's Excellent Educator.

O'Malley says the kids are what she loves most about her job.

"They teach me to be humble, the smiles, the learning, the fact that everyday they have something new to share," she said.

During breaks in the school year, O'Malley sends her kids letters in the mail, because her students often don't know what it means to get mail.

"So I sent them each a card this break, so they were pretty excited," she said.

Many of her co-workers agree that O'Malley is never without a smile on her face. She lifts them up when they're having a bad day.

"I just treat them the way I want to be treated," she said. "It's easy because the staff gives you a lot of energy."

Tia Yang, a front office employee, described O'Malley as a wonderful woman.

"She's very down to earth," Yang said. "She has a lot of love in her heart and caring, she's one of the staff you want to keep."

The school wants to keep her, but O'Malley has other plans.

She is retiring this year. But she says she'll still be in the classroom from time to time just as a volunteer