Coronado K-8 teacher always goes extra yard for students

Dillahunty was nominated by two of her former colleagues at Coronado K-8 School, Mary Ann Liddle and Ann Crippen, who praised her "acts of kindness, encouragement, proper modeling, and the giving of her time."

"She doesn't just do the regular stuff," Liddle said. "She always, always goes the extra yard."

The list of examples is long, from sponsoring student groups such as National Junior Honor Society, to taking students on science field trips as far away as Coronado Island, after finding ways for students to raise the funds to pay for the trips.

"She's always on call for parents, or talking to them and encouraging them, or finding a program for their youngster to benefit from, so they can succeed," Liddle said. "She's always looking for ways to help children succeed. She sticks with it, too."

Dillahunty has been teaching seventh-grade science at Coronado, 3401 E. Wilds Road, in Catalina, but will move up next year and become an instructional coach at the school, working with other teachers to help them be more effective.

Liddle and Crippen have been retired for several years, but still are close friends with Dillahunty. They decided to nominate her for a Ben's Bell after seeing a story about another teacher who'd been honored by the program. "We got together to write the nomination and, of course, it was about 500 words too long," Liddle said.

Their final, more concise, version impressed the Bells folks, and they surprised Dillahunty at the school on Thursday.

"She was so excited," said Tassi Call, one of the assistant principals at Coronado. "She was brought to tears.

"She said it was her best week ever," Call said, because Dillahunty had learned of her new job earlier in the week, too.

"Viki's a phenomenal teacher," Call said. "She's been here 29 years. She opened the middle school. Her biggest strength is she works so hard with kids who struggle, and she's an excellent mentor and a wonderful person."

Dillahunty couldn't be reached for comment. But Call was happy to talk about what it meant to her teacher, and to the school, which is part of Amphitheater Public Schools.

"We know we have an amazing school," she said. "This just solidifies that we really do have the most amazing teachers."

And Liddle was happy to talk about the honor, too.

"She's just such a great woman," she said. "I'm so glad she's my friend and that she's been my colleague for years."

ben's bellings

The Ben's Bells project began in March 2003, one year after Ben Maré Packard died of croup, just before his third birthday. His family hopes it reminds people to be kind, to help ease one another's pain.

The latest phase of the project began in September 2005, weekly "bellings" for those among us who make our community a better, kinder place to live.

If you know people who deserve a Ben's Bell, nominate them to be "belled." Go to www.929themountain.com/pages/jennie_itm.html and click on Ben's Bells Project. To learn more about the project, go to www.bensbells.org. Or help work on bells by dropping by the studio, 816 E. University, in Geronimo Plaza. It's open 10-3 Wednesday; 2-7 Friday and 10-3 Saturday and Sunday.

And check the Star each Saturday to see the latest recipient.