An area teacher is seeking support to help obtain new funding for her school’s music program.

Adair – Casey / Guthrie Center Band Director Kyra Babcock is currently a contestant in Colossal’s “America’s Favorite Teacher” competition. She reports that voting is active, and that she’s currently made it into the quarter-finals. According to Babcock, the grand prize includes $25,000 for the teacher’s classroom, a $1,000 donation to the school library, and an assembly featuring Bill Nye the Science Guy. She tells Raccoon Valley Radio about her desire to win to help strengthen the instrumental music program, and notes that a visit from a well-known figure like Bill Nye would be an exceptional opportunity for students in a rural district.

While the top prize also features a trip to Hawaii and an interview with Reader’s Digest, Babcock emphasizes that her primary goal is securing the funding for the program. Community members can support her by voting once every 24 hours until May 7th at 7pm. A Facebook account is required to cast a ballot, and a link for voting is available here.