BERRYTON (KSNT) - Samantha Kramer is more than just a third-grade teacher at Berryton Elementary school. She's a team player, a role model and a friend. Kramer was born and raised in Topeka. She went to school in the 501 district which is where her passion for teaching began. "I had a really good second-grade teacher that kind of impacted me a lot," Kramer said. "Her name was Mrs. Isle. And then Mrs. Evans was my eighth-grade history teacher and loved her along the way too. So, it's just, a lot of teachers that made big impacts on me and showed me what a good teacher looks like, and I wanted to be that for kids." After graduating from Topeka West High School, Kramer went on to attend the University of Kansas where she went through their teacher licensing program. Currently in her eleventh year of teaching, all of which has taken place at Berryton, it's her ability to connect with her students on a personal level that Principal Kyrstin Bervert and Vice Principal Laura Hurla say separates Kramer from other teachers. "She has such a clear grasp on what each child needs, and what that kind of very next step is to move them forward, and you just don't see that level of precision and differentiation in all teachers," Bervert said. "She knows her stuff," Hurla said. "Like her standards, what kids need to know, and then she knows her students and she can put it all together in a way that's pretty magical." Her students more than just agree. Because to them, she's an A+. "She's a really smart and kind teacher." "She always makes learning fun even if it's something really hard." "She's nice." "She's fun in lots of different ways." Kramer said aspiring teachers shouldn't expect every day to be easy. She says you're going to have your fair share of challenges and mountains to climb, but when you reach the top of that mountain, that's why you do the job. "When you finally see those lightbulbs go off, and you finally see them making the connections that you're working so hard to make, that's what makes it all worth it," Kramer said. If you know a teacher that you would like to nominate for teacher of the month, you can do so by emailing [email protected].