Teachers of Northern Lehigh School District were honored Tuesday night at the Slatington Public Library as a plaque was adorned with a tribute to them, thanks to a recent donor.

Marc Grammes of Slatedale, former member of the library's board of directors, recently donated $1,000 to the library, qualifying him to add to the Louise Hallman memorial and honorary plaque that is displayed on the front wall of the library.The plaque affords community members the opportunity to honor a family member, friend or group of people.This is the first addition to the plaque in honor of a living recipient.Grammes graduated from the former Slatington High School and wanted to show his appreciation for past and present educators of the Northern Lehigh School District."It means a lot to so many people. There's more than just books here, there's computers and other technology," said Grammes of the library."Today it's still got books on the shelf but all sorts of resources and computers, and all that takes money." In addition to loaning out books, the library also offers genealogical research venues, a law depot and access to Rosetta Stone, the language teaching system.Board of directors member Hali Kuntz is a former teacher of the Northern Lehigh School District and said the tribute, which reads "In Honor of the Teachers of Northern Lehigh," is "refreshing.""It's a great tribute to teachers in general," Kuntz said. "It's nice to feel teachers are important enough. The respect teachers get has changed, but I'm very happy and I'm honored."Kuntz taught with the district for 25 years and was a student of the district."Northern Lehigh is the hidden gem of the Lehigh Valley and that's because of its teachers and their dedication to their students," said board secretary Lynne Fedorcha, former Northern Lehigh teacher of 21 years."It is nice to know teachers are valued in the community."Grammes said he is happy to pay tribute to his former teachers, some of whom attended Tuesday's ceremony."There are so many people who changed my life with books, especially teachers. They've opened up so much to us."During the ceremony Grammes recounted a story where a teacher of his promised his class a trip to Gettysburg if the students read "The Red Badge of Courage.""If you can touch a life with a book, even if you don't know who, it's worth it," he said.