Saratoga School in Morris to honor Trotter with scholarship

MORRIS – Simply mention the name Honor Trotter to teachers, administrators or former students at Saratoga School, and the first reaction is likely a smile and a laugh as memories pop into their heads of the late kindergarten teacher.

“She had the most interesting laugh; I have never heard anyone laugh like her in my life,” fourth-grade Saratoga School student Charlie Wright said. “She always talked about how she wanted to buy a horse and paint it yellow; and once at an assembly, she wore a nice dress and with her yellow Crocs. She loved the color yellow.”

Trotter lost her battle with cancer May 6, 2013, three days before her 60th birthday.

She taught at Saratoga School for 33 years and became a friend and mentor to those around her.

“When I began teaching at Saratoga, the school didn’t have a mentor program yet, but Honor showed me the ropes and became my mother figure here. I still have a screenshot of the last text she sent to me,” kindergarten teacher Adam Peterson said.

Peterson has found a way to keep Trotter’s memory alive in the Morris community.

Peterson has published four children’s books on his own and decided last year to write a book with that year’s class titled “Kids Show Respect,” to promote the importance of writing. He said that a few weeks ago, the proof of the book came in the mail and he began to wonder what to do with its profits, because it wasn’t done for personal gain.

“I didn’t want the money to just benefit the kindergarten program or just Saratoga School. So, I talked to the other kindergarten teacher, Tiffany Beeler, and we had an emotional meeting with Superintendent Kathy Perry about setting up a scholarship fund in memory of Honor,” Peterson said.

Peterson since has written and is in the process of publishing another children’s book with his kindergarten class from this year titled “Animals of the Alphabet,” and the profits of both books will help to start the scholarship.

“We wrote this book to make Honor happy. We are selling the books, but I’m keeping my copy at home in my room,” Saratoga School kindergarten student Carson Kilgore said.

Trotter’s husband of 37 years, Neil Trotter, said his late wife would be thrilled about the scholarship.

“Teaching really meant a lot to her. She had great satisfaction to see how the kids changed from the start to the end of the year, and the love they gave to her was equal to what she gave them,” Neil said. “It is tremendous for her to be remembered in this way.”

The logistics are still in the works, but Peterson wants scholarship recipients to be qualified seniors from Morris Community High School, who graduated from Saratoga and plan a career in education.

“I want to fund this scholarship with the kids’ books and approximately four fundraisers throughout the year. I have asked other teachers for ideas, and we are in the planning phase,” Peterson said.

Wright said this money could change the lives of former Saratoga School students.

“Sometimes, people want to pursue their dreams and money stops them. Maybe with this money, they can pursue their dreams of being a teacher, just like Mrs. Trotter,” Wright said.