ANDERSON — A local teacher’s generosity is bringing her national attention and thousands of dollars worth of new school supplies to the city’s neediest students.
“The Rachael Ray Show” chose Becky Vannatta, a ceramics teacher at Anderson High School, as the country’s most giving educator because every year she gives about $15,000 in cash and supplies to her students.
The award brought television crews to Vannatta’s classroom and home twice and sent her and her husband, Scott, to New York City in early May for a filming of Ray’s talk show. The episode will air Monday at 9 a.m. on WISH Channel 8.
The mother of three said she makes less than $40,000 a year and has even taken out loans to help students pay for clothing, supplies or lunch. Her husband doesn’t always approve, she said, but like she told Rachael Ray, she’d give all of her income away if she could.
“This is the first time this is a positive thing for me,” Vannatta said. “Most people think it’s awful that I’m going into debt for my students.”
Vannatta has taught at various Anderson schools for 11 years, the last two at Anderson High School. She is the daughter of Anderson Community Schools board president Teddy Bohnenkamp.
Vannatta still doesn’t know who among her students or how many of them wrote to the show nominating her for the contest. It’s common knowledge in her classroom that Vannatta loves Ray for her keen sense of cuisine, a skill Vannatta said she struggles to emulate.
She first learned about the contest when the show called her for an interview. They called again and then again, with each interview lasting at least 45 minutes.
Finally, the show’s staff informed her that she had won and that they wanted to send a camera crew to Anderson shortly before spring break. Then on a second day of filming the following week, Vannatta learned that she was also winning a shopping spree at Staples.
With the help of 20 students, that 10-minute spree netted thousands of dollars in supplies. Some of the winnings will be distributed to students at the Wigwam on Aug. 4 and 5. That’s when students can register for the district’s free and reduced lunch program, but the school supplies will be available to any student.
Haley Stanley, one of Vannatta’s students, said rushing to fill the shopping carts with supplies was a fun experience.
She said it’s not just money, but also time, that Vannatta eagerly gives to her students.
“If you ever need help with anything, she’s always there,” Haley, 17, said. “Not just with school, but also with personal problems. And if she can’t do it herself, she always tries to find someone to help.”
On the set of the show, Vannatta had her own dressing room and her own hair and makeup person. Patrick Dempsey was also on the set that day, and while Vannatta didn’t meet the “Grey’s Anatomy” star, she did meet his dog.
Dempsey and his dog each had their own dressing room.
Vannatta said she became very emotional during the taping, but Ray held her hand as they spoke.
“She was just fabulous,” Vannatta said of Ray.
Despite the attention, Vannatta is still humble.
“I really don’t feel like I do anything special,” she said. “I just feel like it’s my calling I guess.”
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July 24, 2008
'Rachael Ray Show' honors generous teacher
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