Genee Dalton, a first-grade teacher, believes in the magic of learning and making every single day a “marvelous day in ‘Daltonville’” for her students.

The beginning of the school year in Dalton’s class at Edneyville Elementary School in Hendersonvillle starts with an introduction to “Daltonville,” a fictional community in which Dalton is “the sheriff” who teaches students accountability, responsibility, and the duty to be kind and think of others.

“We created ‘Daltonville’ many years ago,” said Dalton. “It came from a student mission statement that we created, ‘If it is to be, it is up to me.’ Everybody has jobs in ‘Daltonville’, just like you would have in a normal community to work together to make things happen. My personal goal for children when they enter and leave ‘Daltonville’ is to know that they are loved.”

Dalton’s dedication to her job and ability to spread that love to hundreds of students in 32 years of teaching led to her selection as one of the 10 winners of the Education Lottery’s School Heroes program.

Rene Cutshaw, a teacher assistant and bus driver, nominated Dalton for the award. All four of her children attended Dalton’s class.

“It had a lot to do with her ability to connect to the children,” said Cutshaw. “Her passion and the way that she had the ability to love them and teach them at the same time was the perfect balance for them to be able to excel in first grade.”

Marsha Justice, principal of the school, says Dalton goes above and beyond every single day to make sure that her curriculum is engaging to the students and to make sure that their food needs and clothing needs are met.

“She fights for students to make sure they receive any and all resources to ensure that their needs are met,” said Justice. “She challenges students to grow, not only academically, but behaviorally and in their character.”

The Education Lottery created the NC School Heroes program to showcase the positive impacts teachers, principals, and other school workers have in public schools every day. Parents, teachers, and community members submitted more than 4,900 nominations of individuals making a difference in their schools.

Both the School Hero and their school receive a $10,000 award.

Dalton said she will save some of the money and use the rest on a family vacation to Florida. Justice said the school will get a new school sign.

“Teachers and school staff have all stepped up for our children during these unprecedented times,” said Mark Michalko, executive director of the N.C. Education Lottery. “The 10 School Heroes selected this year provide a glimpse into the world of these everyday heroes and we are glad to shine a spotlight on their great work.”

Money raised by the lottery assists many of those School Heroes, including $386 million this school year that supports the work of school support staff such as office assistants and custodians. Additional money will help build and repair schools, support the N.C. Pre-K program for “at-risk” four-year-olds, provide college scholarships and grants based on financial need, and help meet school transportation needs.

The lottery raises more than $725 million a year for education. For details on how $5.4 million in lottery funds have made a difference in Henderson County, click on the “Impact” section of the lottery’s website, www.nclottery.com.