Jane Luchtefeld, eighth-grade religion teacher at St. Boniface School in Edwardsville, has been selected as a finalist in the 2010 RealCare Educator of the Year contest. She was selected nationally from among other educators for her creativity, enthusiasm, and exemplary teaching methods while utilizing the RealCare Baby program.

Luchtefeld has been instructing students in the real care of babies for over 18 years, beginning with “flour” babies. She secured donations from local businesses and grants to build the program and purchase computerized life-sized and life-like “baby” dolls.

Students are assigned a baby to care for a period of two to three days. During this time, students are responsible for all of the care of the baby, at school and at home. They feed, clothe, change diapers, and even get up during the night when the baby cries.

RealCare babies have a computer chip that allows precise monitoring of care. It monitors and reports how much a baby was allowed to cry or sit wet or hungry before the baby received attention.