Reading-North Reading Patch's Person of the Year 2012

After receiving 51 votes, Sarah Lentz is our new Person of the Year! Lentz is a kindergarten teacher at the Barrows School in Reading.

Four local people were nominated for our Person of the Year award:

• Coach Frank Carey, coach at NRHS
• Sarah Lentz, kindergarten teacher at the Barrows School in Reading
• Lindsay Barnes-Felix, who contributes to and supports the community
• Arline Lumb Garlington, who works and cares for the elderly

Lentz won with 51 votes. Here are some of the wonderful things readers had to say about the kindergaten teacher:

Jeanene Brickhouse said, "Sarah Lentz is so kind, funny, and energetic - she is amazing! After only meeting her new class briefly at orientation she knew each of their names calling them in one by one on the first day of school! The entire first week my son came home saying "I have the best teacher ever!" Sarah makes learning fun and creates excitement in every activity. We are so lucky to have wonderful teachers like Sarah in our schools!"

"Our children could not have more dedicated, loving, caring as well as professional teacher," Christina Wilbur said.

"Ms. Lentz is a dedicated and caring individual who makes all of her students feel important and loved," Jennifer Maldonado said. "She fosters an atmosphere of respect for each other and for learning. Ms. Lentz is creating the base experiences that will help our children be life long learners and make this world a better place. Her warmth and dedication to the kindergartens of the Barrows School makes Ms. Lentz loved by all who meet her, parents as well as children."

"Sarah Lentz - She's a great teacher! All the kids love her and she makes going to school exciting and learning fun," Karen Johnson said.

After  votes last year, our person of the year in 2011 was Connor Doherty. Doherty is a Lance Corporal in the United States Marine Corps and was deployed to Afghanistan from March to October last year.

Congratulations to Sarah Lentz, our 2012 Person of the Year.