ADEL, Iowa — There’s an elementary teacher in the ADM School District that makes a big impact on her students, both inside and outside the classroom.

Cristin Kreifels teaches fourth grade at Meadow View Elementary. Every school year, she makes a special pact with her students.

“I make them raise their hands, like a pledge,” Kreifels explains. “They have to promise that any time they’re in the building or they see me out in the community, they have to come say hi and let me know how they’re doing. And I always tell them once you’re my student, you’re always my student and I’m always going to want to know what’s going on.”

Former students include the Deardorff brothers. The oldest, Boomer, had Mrs. Kreifels first.

“I had her for second grade,” Boomer explained.

The youngest, Renaud, had her twice, in second and fourth grade.

“She’s really kind and caring,” Renaud said. “She’s Just a really good teacher and she’s probably my favorite teacher I had ever.”

The middle brother Dysen’s school year with Mrs. Kreifels might be the most memorable.

“There was a time in second grade when my uncle went missing in the mountains in California,” Dysen said. “And she would just check in on me, making sure I was doing OK, understanding what’s happening. Being not only a teacher, but having a connection to my life.”

It’s that connection and kindness that mom Nikki Deardorff appreciates.

“I would tell her thank you for stepping in to care for and genuinely love my kids when I can’t be there with them at school,” Deardorff said. “Because it’s not easy to send your kids to daycare, to school every day when you have to go off to work. You miss some of the fun things during the day and some of the sad things of the day, and she shares both of those with you, all the time.”

That’s why the Deardorff family nominated Mrs. Kreifels for the Golden Apple.

“I am blown away… I guess is the best way to put it,” Mrs. Kreifels said when she accepted the award. “You guys are awesome. You learn, you work, you try your hardest all of the time and I love that.”

Mrs. Kreifels loves the lightbulb moments with students.

“There is nothing better for a teacher than to watch a concept that a kid is struggling with all of a sudden make sense,” Kreifels said. “And when it makes sense, you just see how much pride they have in themselves and the confidence growing when they realize that they are capable of some of the things that they feel are the hardest things for them to do.”

She helps them get there by setting goals.

“You have to foster in kids a passion for continuing to reach their goals and for using that knowledge in the real world,” Kreifels explains. “You have to find a way for them to see that will help them in any area in life.”

And just genuinely caring.

“Until students know that you care about them, they won’t care to learn,” Principal Jodi Banse said, “so, Mrs. Kreifels’ energy and her relationships with kids mean everything.”

It means everything to her students, past and present.

“I would say thank you for being there and being a great teacher,” Dysen said.

The Golden Apple means everything to Mrs. Kreifels.

This is Mrs. Kreifels’ 18th year teaching, half of those years have been at the ADM School District.