Dorchester Teacher Appears on Ellen

It truly pays to be kind, especially in the world of Ellen DeGeneres.

On Monday’s episode of the Ellen DeGeneres Show, one of Ellen’s guests will be Nicole Bollerman, a third-grade teacher at UP Academy Dorchester. Her name might sound familiar. Last year, Bollerman received nationwide recognition after she won $150,000 in a CapitalOne “#WishForOthers” contest, only to donate all of her winnings back to her school.

In a video highlighting Bollerman’s dedication to her students (below), she says:

So many of our students are just not set up for college and lifelong success. My #WishForOthers was that my third graders all take a book home for winter break. I really just wanted them to have books of their own that they could take care of and share with their families. It made them feel really important, and they are really, really important kids.

On Ellen, the talk-show host called Bollerman “a saint” for her selflessness. With students from UP Academy joining in on the fun via video chat, Ellen showered the entire group with a whole bunch of amazing gifts from Target.

UP Academy’s Ellen gifts included the following:

• Backpacks filled with school supplies for every student,
• $100 Target gift cards for every student, and
• $500 Target gift cards for every UP teacher.

Finally, for Bollerman herself, presented in a giant fish tank full of Skittles:

• A check for $25,000.

Bollerman joins a long list of special guests on Ellen who have been recognized for their strength and selfless acts, which includes a team of Wellesley firefighters who saved a dog from the Charles in 2013.

See Bollerman and UP Academy on the full episode of the Ellen DeGeneres Show on Monday afternoon at 4 p.m. on WCVB.