Olympic View Elementary School kindergarten teacher Carrie Diekman was honored recently as Seattle radio station Star 101.5’s teacher of the week.

Diekman was nominated for the honor by her afternoon class student Dallas Brodt, 5, and his mother Molly Brodt.

“Dallas said she makes learning fun for him,” Molly Brodt said.

The Brodts heard about the “Teacher of the Week” promotion on the station’s “Kent and Alan in the Morning” show, and Dallas’ mom decided to nominate his first teacher.

The station’s disc jockey “Super Jen” Jen Pirak presented Diekman with a jumbo-sized check for $100, a plaque and a Star 101.5 T-shirt. The students received gift bags which included goodies such as coloring books, mini flashlights and magnets. The radio station also provided snacks for the Friday afternoon party.

Pirak asked the assembled group of wriggling 5 year olds what they liked about their teacher.

“She’s nice.” “She’s fun.” She’s pretty.” “She’s my best friend.”

It was this kind of child-like honesty that drew Diekman to teaching kindergarten.

“I love this age,” she said. “They’re excited about everything. I feel like I work with 45 of my best friends.”

Diekman is an Oak Harbor native. She was a student at Olympic View, and student taught there while earning her degree. She has taught at her primary school alma mater for her entire four-year career, and says there’s no place she’d rather be.

Her teaching assistant is Karen Mechau, who was also the teaching assistant for Diekman’s kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Minnich.

“She is a master,” Mechau said of Diekman. “Her class is very lucky. They come out of here very prepared for first grade.”

You can reach News-Times reporter Marcie Miller at mmiller@whidbeynews

times.com or call 675-6611