Surprise home makeover for teacher

GREELEY - Jodee Mueller says he's the teacher you wish you had as a kid. She's talking about Mr. Gerk.

His name outside his fifth grade classroom at McAuliffe Elementary School in Greeley is David Gerk, but everyone calls him "Dewey."

"He makes education fun," Mueller said.

Mueller would know. She teaches fifth grade right next door to Gerk.

She watches as Gerk runs around the room engaging and inspiring his kids.

"You would never know the man has cancer," she said.

Gerk was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in August 2003.

The fight has been ongoing, but to Gerk, leaving the kids was never an option.

"I needed to be here because as bad as I was ever feeling, when I would come in dragging and feeling crummy, they would lift my spirits," Gerk said.

Same goes for Mueller and the teachers.

"They've been nothing but supportive," he said.

Until this month, he didn't know just how supportive his colleagues could be.

Last week, Mueller and several other teachers gave up their spring break to give Gerk's house a makeover; new floor, new paint and even a new recliner.

Gerk had no clue.

Mueller had rounded up a group of teachers and Gerk's friends and family to stand outside the "new" house on Thursday and welcome him home.

"We decided we wanted to help you with this," Mueller told a near-speechless Gerk after he entered the house.

Gerk has seen quite a lot in his 25 years of teaching, but this, he said, was a first.

"Very surprised, very grateful, this is unbelievable," he exclaimed.