She made it to the Ellen Show but hasn't met Duran Duran, yet

We started the story of Bridey Heidel as she began a campaign to make it back stage to meet her lifelong idols, Duran Duran, at their September 25 concert in Reno. The dynamic South Tahoe High English teacher, and advisor to the school's ALLY Club, has had a dream to meet Simon Le Bon, the lead singer of the popular pop group who's top charting tunes include Come Undone, Hungry Life a Wolf and A View to a Kill.

Heidel credited Duran Duran's music as saving her during a traumatic childhood which saw her change schools 26 times before graduation.

Heidel has spent years inspiring students in the classroom, and this fall she's inspired hundreds others as she took them on a journey via social media as she went for her dreams.

"This has been an exercise in dreaming big," Heidel told South Tahoe Now during the journey. "What's the worst thing that could happen? It's the journey and not the destination, and about dreaming big."

The inspiring teacher carries dreaming and hope into the classroom. "If we can’t teach the kids to dream big dreams, what are we doing?"

Heidel tried to get to the attention of comedienne Ellen DeGeneres who was hosting Duran Duran on her September 23rd show. Months of hashtags and sharing her story on Ellen's website finally did get noticed and Bridey went to Hollywood this week to see the Ellen Show and Duran Duran.

While she hoped to make it on stage and meet Ellen and the band, she had to be satisfied with dancing in the audience and seeing her idols close up.

"It was an absolutely awesome experience to be on TV with Simon Le Bon," said Heidel. " I could have never imagined that scenario as a child crushing on my idol."

She said the Ellen Show was "really high energy," and the staff was incredibly polite. "You can tell Ellen has a hand on it all because everyone is just as positive as she is," added Bridey.

There is one more chance for "Mrs. Heidel" to make it to meet Simon Le Bon...she is going to Reno to see their show at the Grand Sierra Friday.

She hasn't stopped using Twitter to reach out in hopes of getting backstage.

"I'm tenacious and my goal is to meet them so I will push until the end of the show Friday," she said. "I'm making a poster that has the hash tag I've been using. It will read 'I was on Ellen's show! Can we meet here????#brideytomeetsimon'."

View the video of the show here. Heidel is in the sleeveless purple top and dancing from her aisle seat.