Caledonia — Caledonia High School teacher Heather Tornes recently received the 2025 Distinguished Citizen Award, presented by the Congressional Medal of Honor Society.
The award recognizes those whose work distinguishes themselves as Americans dedicated to freedom and the ideals represented by the Medal of Honor.
On the same day, she stood beside 20 other Congressional Medal of Honor recipients and assisted with the ringing of the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange in New York City.
Known for her family’s military background and her commitment to educating and inspiring her students to learn about the history of their country, Tornes has taught a variety of social studies classes at CHS for 27 years.
She created the curriculum for her America at War class, which focuses on 20th century conflicts and wars. In lieu of a textbook, students use a variety of sources and have veterans of World War II, Korean POWs and current members of the military come speak to the class.
‘Talking about integrity isn’t a math or English class, it’s a life skill. That’s what teachers do; it’s not just academics, you teach integrity.’
— high school teacher Heather Tornes
For the past nine years, Tornes has taken students to the Armed Forces Thanksgiving luncheon in Grand Rapids and assisted CHS graduate Brody Woodwyk raise $11,658 to build a memorial he designed to honor CHS alumni and community members who served in the military.
“While teaching academic knowledge is essential for the growth of our youth, it is equally important to teach young people about the service and sacrifice of our military men and women,” she said at the Circle of Honor Dinner. “This focus is vital to fostering a sense of gratitude and respect for the freedoms we enjoy.”
In her classroom, she said, every day is Veterans Day and a chance to learn from the past to become a better, more well-rounded student and citizen.
What gets you up in the morning and excited about teaching? “(My teaching) revolves around my heart for veterans, and I incorporate that into my regular class. When you find ways to go the extra mile to share your passion with your students, it doesn’t feel like extra work. … I think sometimes teachers think they have to be 100% totally noble in what we do, but this is a job and our families come first; it’s a part of me and doesn’t define me fully.”
“Talking about integrity isn’t a math or English class, it’s a life skill. That’s what teachers do; it’s not just academics, you teach integrity. Getting involved and making a positive change — that’s the blessing of being able to be a teacher, to share your love and gifts with the next generation.”
What are some of the biggest challenges in your role and how do you strive to meet them? “Things have completely changed since COVID. It’s a different type of students, and to meet them where they are and to elevate their performance, it’s different. We’re seeing more apathy in students, and that is a challenge. … It’s getting better. It’s about working through the challenges, because kids were affected at different levels.”
What are some changes in education you’ve experienced in your career? “More administrative demands on teachers. Some of it is necessary, but it has profoundly impacted our time to be able to spend time with our students. That’s one of the biggest changes. I feel like I’m doing less teaching and more documentation, while figuring out how to balance everything. … We don’t have the time to do it all, and our time with the kids suffers.”
What would you say to someone considering teaching as a profession? “If your heart is telling you to teach, teach. Do it to the best of your ability, but set your boundaries. Love your kids, no matter what is going on around you. Ask yourself, ‘Did I do my best today, with my time and ability to do my job, and love my students?’
“Find creative ways to incorporate who you are and what you love. The extras have to come from the passions you have in your own life, like bringing in veterans or going to the Armed Forces Thanksgiving luncheon.”
What are some of your favorite memories of teaching? “The veterans memorial project with Brody (Woodwyk). He is a patriot and has a heart for the military. He’s going to make a wonderful, positive impact on the community.”
Also, “Whenever I can bring in a new veteran into my class, or another group of students to the (Armed Forces) luncheon and honor our graduates who are going into the military at senior award night.”
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