Fernbrook Elementary School Honors Hoffmans Wounded in Attacks
For the past two years, Yvette Hoffman has worked alongside Fernbrook Elementary’s kindergarten students as an educational support professional.
“She’s kind of like everybody’s favorite neighborhood mom, auntie, grandma, all rolled into one person,” said Jeff Zastrow, Fernbrook’s principal.
Zastrow is the man who hired her.
“She listens to every story about every loose tooth, every pet, every vacation, every birthday party,” Zastrow said. “And while doing that, helps kids improve in reading, math, writing and just being good humans.”
Fernbrook teaches students to ‘be the nice kid,’ and Hoffman leads the charge.
Yvette Hoffman with Kindergarten students from Fernbrook Elementary. Photo Courtesy: Jeff Zastrow
“When I come to this school and I volunteer in my son’s kindergarten class, and I see her interact with these kiddos, it makes your heart melt,” said Angela Champagne-Fromme, president of the Fernbrook PTO.
When Champagne-Fromme heard the news on Saturday that Yvette and her husband, DFL Senator John Hoffman, had been shot, she sprang into action.
“The PTO board started texting. We dropped everything we had going on, on a Saturday. We got together and came up with a plan on what we could do to help,” said Champagne-Fromme.
Fundraising help
The group collaborated with Zastrow and launched a GoFundMe page to help with the Hoffmans’ recovery.
The initial goal was set at $5,000. But in the days since the fundraiser was launched, donations have ballooned to more than $180,000 dollars.
“By and large, it’s been folks that just want to shine a positive light on the Hoffmans, which has just helped things blow up in a very positive fashion,” said Zastrow.
Meanwhile, Zastrow says he’s been in contact with Yvette and that she’s feeling better every day.
Her focus is now on John’s recovery.
“It’s just a beautiful thing, in light of how violent it was to look at how people can come together and lift up people in need when they’re at their most vulnerable,” said Champagne-Fromme.
