Tribute to Teachers

I would like to nominate my mother, Nancy Ayscue, for the Tribute to Teacher's award. I am nominating her because of her dedication to her students and children in our neighborhood. A few examples of my mom's dedication would be the time she takes outside of work helping students, her taking the time to organize plays for the children in the community, and her efforts within the classroom.

My mother is dedicated to helping students outside of work. There have been many long nights when my mother assisted children with low scores to understand their homework. Students call our house often to get my mom's help. She brought several "E" students to passing scores and end of grade tests. She is great about motivating the students to do better. As a student myself I could only wish that my teachers would take the time to help me further myself the way my mother does for her own students. My mother is not only a teacher and motivator, she is also a guidance counselor. There have been times that my mother has helped her students through rough times. Each and every day after school my mother picks me up and is surrounded by former middle school students that she has taught. They never seem to forget all she does to see them succeed.

She also has organized plays and puppet shows in our community. She was in charge of holiday plays at our church that required much of her time. She was so happy to give the children something to do after school and during the summer that would help us grow and not get into trouble. All of the kids would look forward to play practice where we could get together and do something positive.

I used to go to the school that my mother teaches at. I would see her working with the kids in her classes. They all had a great respect for her because she motivated them to work hard and make great grades. She would come up with games and other creative ways to teach the students. She has a real passion for teaching and for seeing children grow into their successful adult selves.

I feel like my mother works very hard and deserves this award. As a high school student and learning from her at home and school she has motivated me to be a straight "A" student and I would like to be a teacher myself some day.

RBC Centura believes that the smallest things in the eyes of one can be giant in the eyes of another. This is why I am nominating Nancy Ayscue for the Tribute to Teachers award. Mrs. Ayscue applies this phrase through her hard work in our public school system. She is always willing to work long hours (without additional pay) to help students and fellow teachers in need. She uses her personal funds to ensure that her students’ hard work does not go unnoticed. She takes her career home with her each and every day spending hours doing her own "home work" to make sure that her students succeed in her classroom and in their futures.

Nancy is not your average teacher. Nancy has worked for years in classrooms with children facing behavioral disorders as well as physical disabilities. She has never complained when she faces difficulty getting her students with behavioral disabilities to pay attention or when she has to lift a child that is confined to a wheel chair. She loves the children and has a strong desire to see these children grow up and do something giant with their lives regardless of the physical and mental limitations. Nancy has been the first hand to reach out to many of these children. She always helps lift the students hopes by showing them that they can overcome any limitations. She treats each and every child with the same level of respect they deserve.

Mrs. Ayscue also thinks outside the box and arranges various activities to help her students learn. She offers tutoring sessions and also provides the students with her home phone number to students requiring additional understanding with their homework and other assignments. Many times she spends her own money to purchase rewards for her students’ hard work. She believes in rewarding children for their efforts and accomplishments. Many of her students revisit long after they have gone on to high school and college to thank her for pushing them towards their success.

She does not teach for the compensation, she teaches because she cares about the future of our children. If she wins the Tribute to Teachers award I know that she will use this in her goal to ensure that every child receives the encouragement and tools needed to succeed.

Mrs. Gasper began teaching the 6th grade at Western Harnett County Middle School in 1998. She transferred to teach the 6th grade at the brand new Overhills Middle School in the year 2000-2001. She is one of the original teachers remaining at Overhills Middle. She originally taught communications and social studies but now concentrates solely on teaching communications. She has had one of the highest percentages of pass rates for the EOG (end of grade testing) and firmly believes in the (NCLB) No Child Left Behind Act. She has been the Lead Mentor Teacher several times during her tenure and continues to coach and guide first year teachers. She has worked as the SIT (school improvement team) committee chairperson and continuously seeks ways to improve the campus environment. She is AG (academically gifted) qualified and teaches all her students Level 1 - 4 using tiered differentiated instruction. She is currently the communications department head for the school and moved from teaching 6th grade to the 8th grade for 2007-2008 academic year. Several of her students were county winners in spelling bees and The Young Authors Writing competition. She has a Masters of Education degree from Campbell University, Buies Creek North Carolina (1991) and was elected School Teacher of the Year for 2005-2006. Mrs. Gasper earns the respect and admiration of the staff and the student population on a daily basis and never loses sight of educating tomorrows citizens and future leaders of America.

Jessica Harrington loved school from the very first day she stepped foot in pre school. As soon as she arrived home from school everyday, the first thing she couldn't wait to do was her homework. She has a lot of cousins and when they were small, she would take them to the library (even in the summer) and help them do reports on things like trees and different countries...just so they had something to do during summer vacation. Jessica worked so hard in college, determined to be the best educator she could be. Jessica went above and beyond the courses required, taking extra courses and has obtained her certified reading license. During her college years Jessica was President of the Student Educators of North Carolina where she organized the funding to less fortunate families so they could enjoy holiday dinners and gifts for the children. Jessica continues to stay dedicated to her 5th grade class and although teaching doesn't pay much, she uses her out of pocket money to make sure all the kids have the necessary supplies and tools (and snacks) that help them through each day. Jessica would absolutely be surprised and honored to receive any monies that would benefit her class. Thank you for this opportunity to tell you about Jessica Harrington.

Jessica currently teaches 5th grade at Ayden middle school.

She graduated from east Carolina university, and while there was president of the student educators of NC. She organized the funding to make sure that less fortunate families in the community had dinner on the table and gifts for the kids. She will start her masters program in the spring. She has shown dedication and above and beyond effort for her first year. She had family members come in and build and supply class room necessities. She has shown professionalism as well as child teacher relationship. The kids enjoy and relate to her enthusiasm and true heart. If she were to win I'm sure she would use the prize money wisely for her class. I nominate Jessica Harrington, thank you for the chance to vote.

I have known Jessica all her life! She has always wanted to be a teacher. She has worked very hard at her education and furthering her knowledge base to educate others. Jessica always strives to make a difference in her students' lives introducing innovative and exciting ideas to them. Jessica is energetic and outgoing and does everything with a smile on her face. Jessica frequently buys supplies for her classroom and students with her own money. As a teacher myself, I can see the need for additional funds for the classroom that may not be available from the school district. I am nominating Jessica because I know she will find the best use for the money received to further the education and future for her students.

Jessica Harrington has demonstrated to be a caring and dedicated teacher to her students. She has the ability to reach into their strengths and bring out the best in them. Jessica's wit and humor along with her teaching abilities would benefit much from the "Tribute To Teachers" to further the growth of her students to excel toward their life goals.

Jessica has always wanted to be a teacher and has always wanted to make a difference in people’s lives. She strives to make sure her kids will make a difference in our future. In addition Jessica is frequently asked by the PTA and the Principal to MC events and head up projects.

Jessica uses way too much of her pay to feed the hungry kids (who don’t get fed at home) and buy supplies for her classroom. She’s energetic and savvy in using new techniques in her curriculum. Ultimately she always does everything with a great big smile.

Jessica Harrington is a bright, enthusiastic, and caring person. In my 12 years of knowing Jessica, she has always demonstrated a loving commitment to children. This began in her own family and extended to my family and anyone else she came in contact with. Jessica always exhibited a determined and spirited attitude towards her endeavors in life. These attributes, in my opinion, enable her to be a fine teacher and a valued member of any school environment.

She has always wanted to make a difference in people’s lives.

Not many people know what they want to be "when they grow up". I few think they do; most have no idea. Jessica has wanted to be a teacher always. She is so happy to be teaching and helping her kids every day. She takes pride in her students, class room, and gets involved in so many things. She always has a smile on her face. She has the fresh face, I can make a difference, feeling and that is wonderful because she can.

I’ve known Jessica since she was about 10 years old and she has always wanted to be a teacher and make a difference in people's lives.

I know that she wants to help the children she teaches make a difference in the world that they will be a part of when they grow up and are out of school.

I know that she is very sympathetic towards the children who can't afford to buy lunches. She has a great smile!

Jessica Harrington is an inspiration to all new teachers and clearly a person who is pursuing her passion: teaching. Schools, parents, and students should all be so fortunate to have a person with Jessica's dedication and commitment to teaching.

I have known Jessica since she was 4 years old and she has always expressed the desire to become an educator. Her intent has always been to send her students into the world as citizens that would make a difference in their communities and the world. If I close my eyes and try to picture Jessica in my mind, I will always see her smiling. I know that with this prize she would put it to wonderful use as she is usually called upon by the administration to head up projects in the school. She is the most giving person you could know and very often uses her own money to pay for food for students who don't have it or come to school hungry. I can only imagine what good would come of this money if it were to be awarded to Jessica. If you spend time with Jessica she will always get on the topic of her students and what her next plan is and what new and innovative idea she will use to get them hooked on knowledge. She deserves this because I am very assured that she will do the most creative, stimulating and innovative additions to her already wonderful curriculum. 100% the very best teacher I know!

Jessica is highly motivated and very dedicated to making a difference in the children’s lives. She uses her own resources to help her class succeed. She loves children and cares about what happens to them very much. She is happy and comes to work with a smile on her face everyday. She is an asset to any classroom and I would highly recommend her to teach in any classroom. She is smart, very fair and caring. Please consider her for the certificate. Thank you.

This is Jessica's first year teaching school after graduating college in 2007. She is a great asset to her middle school may she continue to have much success and be a memorable teacher to her 5th grade students.

I do not live in the community, but I have known Ms. Harrington her whole life and when I heard of the possibilities of her being able to do more for her school, I felt the need to express my knowledge. Jessica has been the hub of all her cousins from the time she could talk and walk; she would frequently become the teacher, the provider, and the best friend for anyone in need. She has dreamed of teaching since I can remember. Her enthusiasm has enriched many young lives. She has been asked to take charge in events at school and has done a great job. She is willing to go above and beyond to enrich each student academically. She has a special quality that reflects the hard work and perseverance she has commanded as a teacher. I feel if Ms. Harrington wins, she will do amazing things for her school. Thank you for the opportunity to allow teachers like Ms. Harrington to make a difference.

Jessica is a young vibrant teacher trying to make a difference in her profession and in the lives of her students. She has always wanted to teach and has found a very special place to do so. She uses much of her own salary to help feed her kids who do not get fed well at home and as most, buys supplies for her students out of her own money. As a young person trying to become established, Jessica has already demonstrated that special quality a teacher needs to be effective and to make a difference for others - she know how much that means to so many kids. She is trying to spread the love shown to her in her very loving home to those who may not have as much emotional support. Please consider Jessica for this honor - it will keep her spirit and excitement alive and will ultimately helps so many in need.

Jessica has always wanted to be a teacher.
Has always wanted to make a difference in people’s lives.
Strives to make sure her kids will make a difference in our future.>br? Is frequently asked by PTA and the Principal to MC events and head up projects.
Uses way too much of her pay to feed the hungry kids (who don’t get fed at home) and buy supplies for her classroom.
Jessica as you will find is a great and giving person.. Very positive attitude and always smiling... She has always been very helpful to all and loves children. I have always known her to work very hard and love what she does.

Jessica has always wanted to be a teacher and is passionate about what she does. Her eyes light up when she talks about teaching. She is the kind of teacher that you want your child to have, especially at such a young, impressionable age. She's the kind of teacher that a child never forgets. She uses her own money to feed some of the children that don't eat at home. She delights in making her classroom warm and filled with color, a happy place to be - also using her own money to buy the materials. Jessica Harrington is very deserving of winning the supply money. Please choose Jessica!

Jessica grew up knowing she wanted to make a difference in people's lives. She is an outstanding teacher. She is currently teaching fifth graders in the middle school until they finish construction in the elementary school. She goes above and beyond in every sense of the word to assist the children through the day. Some of the kids come to school complaining that they don't get fed at home and are so tired and hungry and without lunch money and she is constantly taking out of her pocket so the kids can have breakfast, lunch and snacks. She never thinks twice about spending a good portion of her paycheck on supplies. Jessica would rather go without a meal herself so she could give to her students. Although Jessica is fairly new at her job, her students love her young energy and fresh new techniques she has incorporated into their curriculum. She goes above and beyond her principal and fellow teachers’ expectations, which is why she is called on frequently to head up projects and mc events. She is always ready to pitch in and always willing with a great big heartfelt smile. Jessica loves her job more than any teacher I have ever known and is consistent in making sure her students will make a difference in our future.

She is a fun, energetic and generous teacher who really wants her kids to do well.

Ms Hutchens is a very caring and enthusiastic first grade teacher both in and outside of the classroom. This school year she has 23 students with a wide range of learning styles. As if that is not a lot to handle, she assisted with her fellow 1st grade teacher’s class at the beginning of the year when that teacher missed weeks of school due to back surgery. Ms. Hutchens not only cares about her class, but she cares about each student in the school. She feels that it is her responsibility for them to succeed! When not teaching in the classroom or grading papers in the evenings, Ms. Hutchens volunteers her time on weeknights and weekends to bring together students and parents to participate in numerous activities. Some of the activities include: teaching her students about the valuable resources available at the local public library, Fly a Kite day, kid’s and projects at Home Depot. Ms. Hutchens also encourages her students and parents to participate in the PTA events that are held at the school. She truly believes that students need to learn not only in the classroom, but also at home. Keeping the parents involved helps them understand more about their child and what special needs they may need to excel. Recently Ms. Hutchens was awarded TEACHER OF THE YEAR for Providence Elementary. To be chosen as part of the “Tribute to Teachers” would show her dedication to teaching both in and outside of the classroom.

Wow! It is truly “COMMITMENT” that Mrs. Susan Lanier, a first grade teacher, has for whatever child is assigned to her class. Mrs. Lanier was in full gear when 10 weeks into the 2007-2008 school year she was surprisingly told she was to lose ½ her first graders and gain ½ of a second grade class thus making her a “combination” teacher! What a shock this was to her and the parents! She was unprepared to teach such a class. Feeling overwhelmed, dealing with upset parents and caring for her own aging parents, she demonstrated “DETERMINATION” to make this situation a success for all of her students! Mrs. Lanier has spent many hours, including Sundays, planning for both classes. Although fully capable, she had never taught second grade. Through her love for the children she has made each of her students succeed with honors! Under her leadership the students have developed a unique bond between each other. Though this, they all have developed a special love for each other and their AWESOME teacher, Mrs. Lanier. Mrs. Lanier has demonstrated flexibility, resolve and a focused commitment to excellence to ensure a successful year. The students have emerged as the winners thanks to Mrs. Lanier’s skillful teaching techniques.

Mrs. Susan Lanier is a phenomenal teacher. This year she started out as a first grade teacher and 20 days into the year her class was shuffled and she became a first and second combination teacher. Kids were confused and parents were understandably upset initially. It was a rough few weeks. Mrs. Lanier's love and commitment were strong. Many weekends I drove by the school and saw her lone car there. She spent many hours after school talking with parents and preparing 2 lesson plans for her class. She wanted to be sure every child was being challenged and working to his or her maximum potential. All of this while helping to care for her aging parents as they experienced health problems. I knew Mrs. Lanier was special even before my child was in her class. I had called her last summer and asked her to help me start a chess club because in talking with her in the hallways last year, I realized her TRUE love of watching kids learn and grow was so deep. This year has not been easy for Mrs. Lanier in many ways but not for one second have I not seen that sparkle in her eye. Her first and second graders are all learning and progressing wonderfully. They will leave this year with a special bond with each other and with a teacher that I am sure none of them will ever forget.

I would like to nominate my daughter's 2nd grade teacher for the "Tribute to Teachers" Award. This excellent teacher is Susan Lanier at South Topsail Elementary school. She had a most challenging start to this school year which did not occur until the middle of the 1st 9 weeks; right when everyone is getting all settled in for the year! She was told and only 4 days before this happened, that she would lose 1/2 of her 1st graders to be replaced by 2nd graders. Wow! This was so stressful, but this teacher did not miss a beat; she rose to the challenge and was prepared to teach both 1st and 2nd grade curriculum on what seemed like the first day of school for my daughter and her fellow classmates. Susan Lanier spent many hours; nights and week-ends; to rise to this challenge and has gone over and beyond all of our expectations!!! She needs many pats on the back and I feel to win this award would show our appreciation to a well-deserved teacher. This is a teacher that does not need to leave our system; she is necessary for our 1st and 2nd graders to succeed in their curriculum and be prepared in the world that they live in. When my daughter entered Mrs. Lanier's class, her math assessment was 63; her last assessment soared to a 93!!!! This 1st and 2nd grade teacher knows how to teach in a way that a child can learn and soar to independent thinking. My daughter is doing well and I know she will be prepared for her next grade level with confidence due to a teacher who gave 200%. Mrs. Lanier has had a challenging year dealing with these sudden changes in her curriculum and at the same time dealing with 2 parents with dementia that took a downward spiral as all of this occurred with her classroom. She has handled all of these challenges with a smile and moves forward everyday. Please choose this excellent teacher for this award. Thank you very much for providing motivation for our teachers; they need this very much.

Kathy Matthews is my daughter. Therefore, I probably know her as well as any other person on earth. I am not nominating her just because I'm proud to be her mother, which of course I am. This is Kathy's seventh year teaching kindergarten and is not only an excellent teacher and friend, but has been a confidant as well. She truly loves each of her students and this is shown in the way that former students return each year to see her and get a hug, as each child knows that there is always a hug waiting for them. She usually purchases snacks and gives them to the children that may be hungry and not have any money. Kathy has purchased shoes and clothing for students that have lost their homes to fire and has also purchased numerous supplies for her classroom. She has been nominated multiple years for "Who's Who Among American Teachers" and has been the most requested kindergarten teacher at her school for the past couple of years. She has served on several committees at school as she has earned the respect of her principal and co-workers and they are aware of how responsible and dedicated she is to her career. This is one teacher, who is always willing to "go the extra mile" if it means helping one of her students. I'm sure this explains why she was named "Teacher Of The Year" at Bearfield Primary School for the current school year.

Ms. Mauzy is an excellent teacher. She teaches the kids to be responsible for themselves, their work and have pride in everything they do. She is always positive and encouraging pushing her kids to be the best they can be. The way in which she teaches is fun and energetic, so the kids have fun in class while they are learning. They learn with hands on activities, instead of just reading a chapter and taking a test. She is always doing something creative in class to help them understand the concepts they are learning.

She instituted the FISH philosophy that some businesses have used with their employees. It is to have fun (Play), be there, choose your attitude, and make their day. She has taught them that it is all about how they handle things with their attitudes and demeanor that makes a day a good one.

Ms. Mauzy is very deserving of this honor. I wish all teachers would be as positive and encouraging as she has been this year with our son. Teachers help develop our future generations, along with parents and this has been a very rewarding year for our son.

"Miss Molly", as she is know to her students, exemplifies such incredible exuberance and enthusiasm as she leads her charges through their studies. She constantly seeks new ways to deliver her lessons in the most memorable ways possible. One recent example is "pirate week" where the students delved into all aspects of that legendary period of history. She incorporated geography, mapmaking, designing and creating textiles, and more. Lesson plans were themed as appropriate. Each student eagerly completed their assignments and looked forward to the next day's adventure. Molly is eager to give her students a new and interesting way to learn about, not only the required curriculum, but many related topics. Often she spends her personal funds to make her vision possible. I know that she is a perfect candidate for a "Tribute to Teachers" award, as she will utilize it wisely, thus benefiting the children of our community. Molly is the kind of teacher that many of us wish we had had years ago. She constantly inspires her students to fulfill their dreams for the future, and she leads by example.

Gail Teem has been teaching Special Education for 25 years. She has worked with all types of students ranging from mild learning disabilities to sever emotional and behavior disabilities. She has spent her career being an advocate for students with special needs and changing their lives forever. To be a special education teacher you not only need patience, but creativity as well. Students with special needs learn best through activities that engage all their senses and learning styles. Everyday Gail plans activities and lessons for her students that have them using their hands, minds, and most importantly their personalities to enhance their learning. Gail wakes up every morning and goes to work with one intention: to be the best teacher for her students. She gives the students unconditional love and motivation no matter what the situation. Gail has stayed in this demanding and often difficult profession solely for the children. I have the privilege of working with Gail Teem and as a first year special education teacher; I strive everyday to be the kind of teacher and person Gail is.

Miss Wieland is in her 4th year of teaching and she is one of those teachers every kid wants to have...The one that does hands-on demos, songs, raps, etc... to help her kids learn. I have been in her classroom when her class was reviewing the parts of a flower my singing about them, it was the cutest thing and the great thing is the kids remember the parts of the flower.

One year she made each kid a "checkbook" and if their behavior was appropriate for the week, they received "money" to put in their checkbook, but if their behavior was inappropriate, they had to write her a "check." Not only did they practice their math skills, but they learned how to balance a checkbook on a small scale. At the end of the month they could buy things from the classroom store or save their money.

Now only is she an awesome school teacher, but she is also a Sunday School teacher and youth teacher/leader at our church. Ms. Wieland constantly donates her time. Several years Ms. Wieland has gone with World Changers to work in low income areas, teaching Bible School, cleaning up areas and painting. One year she went to Israel for three weeks to teach English as a second language and each time she has paid her own way. She is also a participant in Relay for Life and this year her goal is to do the 60 mile walk for breast cancer.

All in all, Miss Wieland is an outstanding, remarkable young woman who cares more for others than she does for herself making her a wonderful candidate for the Tribute to Teachers!

It was like camping out for Beatles tickets – the prize just as precious. I wanted my son in Mrs. B’s kindergarten and I was determined to be first in line on registration day. I wasn’t the first - the mother in front of me got the last slot. Not a good day. However, in 2007, Mrs. B opened Agape Christian Academy and the sky turned blue again. This was a good day. Opening the school came with its share of doubters. How could Mrs. B dare to resurrect the “one room schoolhouse” approach from yesteryear and effectively teach K-2 in the same setting? Well, I never doubted … and I was right. Her self-written curriculum incorporates extensive vocabulary, foreign languages, early algebra, experiments, geography, cultures, and the arts – woven skillfully around their individual work. All this and they barely even realize they are learning. One day my son looked up and said, “Mrs. B, are we still learning or are we just having fun?” With Mrs. B, it’s like The Magic School Bus – every day. A Duke University graduate, Mrs. B is highly qualified in many areas – but, teaching is her gift. This school is her dream. She gives 110% nurturing that dream. This year Mrs. B forfeited her own salary to start the school. No salary. Who does that in today’s world? I’ll tell you who. Mrs. B. Your gift of $500.00 would be a wonderful way to say, “Thank you”, to someone who reflects a commitment to excellence every single day of her life.

'Mrs. Gann is an excellent EC teacher for our daughter with Down Syndrome. Mrs. Gann has a classroom of exceptional children with widely varied developmental delays, ranging from Autism, to hearing impairment, to Cerebral Palsy, to Down Syndrome. These children all have disparate educational needs, but Mrs. Gann manages to find common ground for teaching them all, while still following their Individual Education Plans. I marvel at her pragmatism in teaching children with special needs. An example of Mrs. Gann's creativity is how she determined to demonstrate my daughter's ability to do simple math. She thought that Mary could decipher simple problems, such as 2+4 = 6. However, Mary's low muscle tone kept her from correctly saying the answer, or writing the answer. Mrs. Gann made pre-printed cut out squares with the answers. She then had Mary paste the answers from the pre-printed cut out squares. Indeed, Mary got almost all the answers correct. Cathi Gann is a gifted, dedicated teacher who manages to apply practical principles to teach students who can be difficult. She doesn't give up on them, and is committed to helping them reach their potential. Please consider her for this honor.”

'I would like to bring to your attention how appreciative I am for Mrs. Gann. I have seen many improvements with my son, Cole, scholastic abilities. My son is autistic and deaf. He is now signing, writing and reading. I have witnessed these achievements during the past to two years since Mrs. Gann has been Cole's teacher. Mrs. Gann is not afraid to try new approaches. This flexibility is most important when working with a child with disabilities. Mrs. Gann is dedicated, determined, supportive, encouraging and understanding. Mrs. Gann is always willing to donate her time endlessly. She gives up her lunch time and planning time to stay with these children to help them be more successful in the classroom and outside the classroom. I will always feel grateful to Mrs. Gann. These are just a few reasons why I wanted to nominate Catherine Gann. Thank you for this opportunity to show a wonderful teacher how much a child and his family needs her.

Since kindergarten my son has had behavioral and emotional problems that are hard to deal with and interfere with his learning capabilities. I have tried to get the School and others to help me over the last couple of years and have gotten no where. Then he started 2nd grade with Mrs. Miller and I explained to her the situation and from day one she has gone above and beyond the position in which she holds and bent over backwards to make sure my son got the right help within the school in order to bring his academics up due from his emotional and behavior problems. She keeps me informed all day of his progress. Mrs. Miller calls me at home after school to talk to me. She has turned more corners and found more helpful stuff for my son than any other person has ever wanted to or been able to do. She wants to help him and does it in such a loving manner. His improvements over this year have proven to me that there are teachers out there that want to help and do more than just show up for work. My son's test scores have come up, his confidence has improved greatly and he has found someone else he can trust and love. Mrs. Miller deserves this award not for just turning my son's life around but those of other children who have experienced her in her classroom or in the community. We as parents have watched her work wonders over the years of teaching and I am proud to have had her as my own son's teacher this year.

Mrs. Rinebold makes every kindergarten child feel loved, special, and smart in her classroom. She continuously goes miles further than expected: a classroom play, classmate of the week with many visuals, challenging yet fun homework. I have four children in school yet have not seen a near match for the results in children's learning as a result of her effective motivation and compassion with children.

Mrs. Rinebold has been a blessing to my family this year. My wife just recently passed away from breast cancer and my son, Max, who is a student of Mrs. Rinebold has been well taken care of during the day at school. She has made sure Max feels safe and secure in her class and has reassured him that he can always talk with her when he needs to.

Ms Rinebold is awesome! She is patient, caring, understanding and an excellent teacher. My daughter has made great strides both as a student and as a person. My family feels very fortunate that we have teachers such as Ms Rinebold in our school system.

Kristen has made my daughter's kindergarten experience positive in every way. My daughter has had many issues this year and Kristen has helped her overcome every obstacle that has come her way. I have four school age children and Mrs. Rinebold has been the best teacher we have had out of all!

Mrs. Rinebold is an excellent teacher! She is kind, empathetic, patient and smart. The kids and parents in the class really respect and admire her. She makes everyone feel special in their own ways and she encourages each student to always do their best. It is always neat to watch her interactions with the students. She also is always continuing to better herself as a teacher. I really appreciate her and feel fortunate to have her be my son's teacher.

Mrs. Rinebold does a wonderful job with the kindergarten group - my daughter loves school, looks so forward to going that it has made her transition to school a wonderful experience for her and us. Mrs. Rinebold give the kids the personal attention they require in kindergarten and the progress my daughter has made is remarkable - she can already read.

Mrs. Rinebold is an amazing teacher. She is the kind of teacher that thinks outside of the box to make learning fun. She takes every effort to enhance the children’s learning. This past year she participated in a year long assessment conducted by National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Mrs. Rinebold is now a National Board Certified Teacher, meeting the highest standard for teaching excellence. I really appreciate all the hard work and long hours she has put in to make kindergarten the best experience for my son. He loves school because of her!

Mrs. Rinebold is the type of teacher parents wish for when their child enters kindergarten. She is caring, sincere, thoughtful, fun, and motivating. She is completely committed to her students and puts in long days to ensure her lessons are engaging. It is obvious in her demeanor that she cares for each child and is committed to helping them reach their potential. Not only has my daughter grown tremendously in the academic sense this year but she is also eager to go to school every day and for that I thank Mrs. Rinebold.

As a first time kindergarten parent I was terrified after I had heard so many scary stories about terrible teachers. Mrs. Rinebold has provided my child with a safe, loving, educational environment where she can thrive as a person and as a student. Mrs. Rinebold has kept all of us informed as to what they are learning in class and ways to help reinforce this at home. During this school year she has had challenging situations - the main one being the loss of one of her student’s mothers. Death is hard no matter what, but how do you help and teach a five year old who just lost his mother to cancer. She not only supported this child but all the children in class as their classmate revealed his loss. She figured out a way to have all the children support this child and his family in a way that celebrates life and by this enriching the community in such a wonderful way! What is highly amazing as well is that no matter what time of day or night, when I have sent her an email with a concern or question she responds back almost immediately as if she was sitting there waiting to respond to me. She has made learning fun. Whenever I have been in the class to help out there is always something exciting going on, from story telling, to singing the months, and playing games....she makes learning an awesome experience! I do not think that there are many teachers like that in this world and I know that I feel blessed to have my daughter in her class.

Mrs. Rinebold is a phenomenal teacher. She always goes above and beyond her duties. The students adore her, and in effect, love school. Every time you enter the classroom you know it is the best place for your child. She makes each child feel special. My son has sensory disorder and she even incorporates his therapy into the class. Not only does my child feel great about showing his classmates the exercises, but he doesn’t feel different. The other children benefit from the added exercise as well. Although Mrs. Rinebold is extremely loving and caring, she also has complete control of the classroom and I am amazed by all that my child has learned in kindergarten!

Ms Rinebold is so patient and kind to our children. She is always cheerful and never raises her voice.

Mrs. Rinebold brings the perfect balance of enthusiasm and structure to her kindergarten class. She is patient with the children but also holds them accountable for their actions. She is innovative and creative in teaching the kids new and difficult concepts. She puts 100% of her best effort into each day which is a true blessing to all of our children. She has set a wonderful tone of learning in my impressionable 6 year old daughter's mind. We are grateful for her!

She is a wonderful teacher who treats each child with care and respect. She goes above and beyond regular expectations with classroom activities and projects. We are very fortunate to have her as a teacher for our son.

Mr. Stephenson should be elected because he spends a lot of money on us kids. He buys books, objects for science experiments, paper, pencils, and other materials he needs for the classroom. He also spends a lot of time at school. He tutors kids after school and before school. Our school starts at 8:10 but he gets there way before that and our school ends at 2:50 but he stays there a long time after that.

Mr. Stephenson, or Mr. “S” as his students call him, is most deserving of this honor. He came to our school/community only three years ago but has already made such a huge impact. He was voted “Educator of the Year” in his first year at our school by his fellow peers. He is also the soccer coach, a member of both the Happy Valley Ruritans and Happy Valley Optimist. He and his wife has increased the HV Ruritan youth membership tremendously and our club was honored with the largest Ruriteen membership in Western N.C. He is loved by all the students, the ones in his class as well as students above and below the 5th grade. Parents love his ability to teach/discipline with firmness but love the children as his own. He teaches them respect for themselves as well as others. Our daughter had him for 4th grade and he moved up to 5th grade with her class and he was/is her favorite teacher. He is now tutoring our son who is in the 4th grade without allowing us to compensate him for his services. In assessing our son, he stated that at some point someone will want us to get him tested and put on medication for ADD. He said he is not ADD he is just “right brained”. He said students like him and students that are diagnosed with ADD/ADHD do not have the disorder, he does. He needs to learn how to teach them differently so they can learn. Mr. S does all of this while he and his wife take care of his disabled/elderly aunt. Mr. S is the greatest and deserves to be honored by the “Tribute to Teachers”!

Ms. Elisabeth Beckwith has committed her life to teaching with excellence; she is the epitome of educational excellence and enrichment in the community. As a 4th grade teacher at Fernbank Elementary in Dekalb County, Georgia, Ms. Beckwith not only encourages her students to pursue academic excellence, she does it with grace, warmth, humor and deep dedication to her profession. I am personally grateful that her commitment has transformed my own daughter's 4th grade experience, she has excelled academically and personally, she loves to learn and be at school again, and it is because of Ms. Beckwith's warmth, outstanding teaching, and dedication to teaching. She is beloved in the community as our Girl Scout Troop where she also serves with dedication. I respectfully submit this request that you consider Ms. Elisabeth Beckwith for a Tribute to Teachers Award.

Mrs. Duncan always greets each child by name and with a smile. She goes out of her way to find new ways to encourage each child in a manner that appeals to them. She hurt her back and continues to work because she doesn't want the children to feel abandoned by her. Mrs. Duncan's true love of children and teaching shines through her and its warmth is felt by everyone whom she meets.

Ms. Duncan approaches each child with warmth and understanding and works to present the material in a way that the child will truly learn.

Mrs. Duncan always greets each child by name and with a smile. She goes out of her way to find new ways to encourage each child in a manner that appeals to them. She hurt her back and continues to work because she doesn't want the children to feel abandoned by her. Mrs. Duncan's true love of children and teaching shines through her and its warmth is felt by everyone whom she meets.

A sixth grade science teacher at Griffin Middle School, Nadia has an innate ability to reach all of her students and her judiciousness and commitment shines throughout the sixth grade. With the amount of discovery, investigation, and engagement demonstrated in her hands-on lessons, one would never know she is a first year teacher. She’s that good. A second language learner herself, the strategies she uses in her instruction reaches our diverse population of learners, setting them up for success. Truly devoted to her craft, she takes the time to learn about her students, determined to understand how the children learn and what support is needed for them to thrive in their endeavors. Nadia’s impact on her students comes from a natural balance of reassurance and challenge. It is with this balance, and by virtue of her genuine support, that timid, less confident learners are piloted toward innately becoming outgoing, enthusiastic ones. Her ability to reach our Hispanic population has been integral to the community. Nadia’s willingness to translate letters, calls, and meetings has allowed parents to feel they are able to communicate with the school. This is huge for our school. In addition, Nadia gives up one of her planning periods each week to work with our IEL class (students who are new to the country and who speak with limited English). Conducting bilingual lessons allow the students to understand the standards, as well as to keep them up with what their peers are learning.

Teaching in Fulton County, Georgia, for the last decade, Ms. Michele Starnes has devoted her professional career to stimulating special needs children at the elementary school level. Awarded the Teacher of the Year 2003-2004 at New Prospect Elementary, she was the Special Education grade level chairperson and the Language Arts trainer for general education teachers. At her former school, Ms. Starnes served as a mentor, a member of the Strategic Plan Committee, and enriched the community as coordinator of the Charitable Fund Campaign. Presently at the Lionheart School, her student's parents and her colleagues appreciate her vitality, sincerity, conscientiousness, and exuberant commitment to her pupils. Going out of the box and beyond the job requirements, Michele is often seen Wednesday nights at Lionheart going the extra mile for her pupils and the school. Constantly continuing her own education to upgrade her skills, she is productive in all the best ways: a critical thinker who is cooperative, yet an independent, dedicated leader passionately committed to school excellence and willing to experiment with innovations. With positive excitement, she has utilized Developmental, Individual differences, Relationship-based approach (DIR) to habilitate the Asperger child's social skills. In a fantastic metamorphic manner, she has transformed the isolated, mute, autistic children into socially interactive pupils. Preparing children to be functioning citizens, she teaches not only basic life skills, but also introduces them to financial principles of compensated work and savings. With her humor, nurturance, and creativity, she can mutate the aggressive, defiant delinquent, into a peaceful, compliant, cooperative student. Devoted to her pedagogical profession, she has the integrity and moral character to mold our children into model citizens. With great enthusiasm, I recommend Ms. Michele Starnes!

Mrs.Teaver is the most caring teacher that I have ever come in contact with. This is my story about her. I have a niece that is now in the 7th grade. She was accepted to West Side at the beginning of her 5th grade year. My niece was in Mrs. Teaver's class in the 5th grade. Mrs. Teaver saw the difficulties that my niece was having and jumped at the chance to help her with her difficulties in Math and Reading. She pulled her 5th grade team together and they came up with a plan to help my niece achieve everything that she could. My niece was tested to see exactly where her most problem areas were. After the testing, Mrs. Teaver got her the help that she needed. Of course, there was a lot of red tape to go through to get that help. But, Mrs. Teaver did not give up until we got what we needed for my niece to get the education that she deserves. My niece is now passing Math with high 80's and 90's. We have seen a big improvement in my niece mentally, socially, and physically. My niece has worked hard, but if it had not been for Mrs. Teaver working even harder we may not have ever known what my niece was capable of achieving.

Candice goes above and beyond with her population of students with autism. She exudes confidence when presented with a "tough" student that requires extra attention and monitoring. Candice uses her own money to purchase products for various projects her class completes. Each Friday is "Fun Food Friday" and Candice buys the groceries for the cooking event that has been designated earlier that week (i.e. omelets this Friday because they are working on the letter "O"). Candice attends a yearly art festival with her class and buys the items needed for the art projects that are required for attendance. These are just two samples of "Acts of Kindness" Candice performs for her class.

Candice works in a field that people “Burn-out” quickly but she has gone along, happily, for 13 years. She loves her students and would show them off to anyone and match them a regular education class any time. I have worked with Candice for these 13 years. Even when I had several chances to work at closer schools, I chose to stay with Candice and her students. She is fair to each student, no matter their severity, and thrives off of each one achieving their goals.

Mrs. Beach always is smiling. She helps us with projects in her greenhouse. We actually cleaned her green house for a project through TSA. She was very grateful to us but we really just wanted to give back to her. Mrs. Beach also is involved in our FHA program. Any after school stuff Mrs. Beach is always there to make sure everything runs smooth. She makes the class laugh when she teaches. She actually knows more than anyone at the school about computers. I think Mrs. Beach knows everything! She deserves to win.

Jane Beach is a well respected and loved teacher at Braden River Middle School. Her love of education and dedication to her students is shown daily in the many projects she initiates and the excitement her enthusiasm brings to those lucky enough to be her student. She has begun and continues a school-wide recycling program, teaching the students responsibility to the community and the environment, also raising money for her department. She has shown students, through her teachings with plants and agriculture, various food sources, many students are no longer aware of in today's society. She is also always the first on board with new technology that would make her classroom and labs more interesting, educational, and fun for the students. She is always supportive of our school family, giving many extra hours of herself and her time, always with a smile. She is there with the best of all teachers. Thank you.

You can't miss her; she's EVERYWHERE! Mrs. Jane Beach is one committed teacher. PTSO meeting - there she is; School Advisory Council meeting - there she is; 4H club - there she is; science fair - there she is; chess club - there she is; helping an abandoned baby bird in the courtyard - there she is; and always with a smile and a bright idea or encouraging comment. Mrs. Beach believes that children learn best by doing. Her science classes are filled with fun and stimulating activities. Thanks to Mrs. Beach, I have fresh basil for my spaghetti sauce. My daughter was so inspired by Mrs. Beach's agri-science class that we now have an herb garden at our house. In addition to her work in the classroom, Mrs. Beach works tirelessly with the PTSO, SAC and after school clubs at our school. Last year she was a board member on the PTSO and she has been a SAC member for several years. She is a constant advocate for, not just her current students, but all of the students at the school. She genuinely cares about the students and is always coming up with new ways to keep them engaged and excited about learning. She loves using technology in her classroom to keep the students interested. I hope scientists master cloning soon...we need more teachers like Jane Beach!

I want to nominate Mr. Hufford, my technology teacher at Tuskawilla. He makes our daily classroom time go by so quickly because it is so much fun. Even though we have lessons to learn on at our centers, we get rewarded if we do good work. I especially like the rockets that we build and the day that we get to launch them. It is so much fun. We also make race cars from wood and get to learn about science in racing them. I think Mr. Hufford should win since he is such a good teacher to me.

My husband has spent his last 35 years committed to teaching young people! He spends endless hours at home, over and above the call of duty, making interesting lesson plans, shopping for prizes so his students will have "fun" learning. He spends a lot of his own money so that his classroom will look inspiring and interesting. He always likes to reward students who do their best. He is an individual that has had many opportunities to do other jobs, but has chosen to invest in the lives of those young people that he teaches daily. Many of his students after leaving his class, always come back to see him and thank him for all that they learned while in his classroom. He teaches because he feels this is what he was called to do and does an exceptional job. I nominate a man of 35 years of teaching for a job well done! I hope that you will nominate him in your tribute to teachers program. Thank you and god bless.

Mr. Hufford is my 8 grade technology teacher. He has taught me how important technology is in today's society. He has inspired me to improve my grades, so that I can achieve my goals in life. He is an older teacher of mine, that what I think make s him so wise. Some days I am not so motivated, because my Dad left my Mom; and my sister and I are on our own. It has been really rough, but Mr. Hufford always seems to say whatever I need to hear that day of my life. Please pray for my family. I want to nominate Mr. Hufford for this award; he has touched my life more than you can know. Thank you.

I want to nominate Mr. Hufford for your favorite educator. He teaches us a lot about technology and how it affects us in our daily life. We get to work on projects at the centers. I like working on the bridge building module, since I want to be an architect.

When we do a good job, we get to do other fun things. He said that he went to school at a NASA training school to teach us.

He is really smart. I think that he is a good role model for us kids. He says that we can be anything that we want to be.

I will study hard so I can be successful. Mr. Hufford is the greatest.

We want to nominate to win Mr. Hufford, our technology teacher. He makes us have so much fun learning and working at all the centers. Every day we have different assignments that have to do with careers that we might choose to do when we grow up. We have centers for broadcasting, being a pilot, bridge building, and many others to choose from. He rewards us with the neatest surprises when we do well. We love to go to Mr. Hufford's class, so pick him. Thanks for listening.

Mr. Hufford is our favorite teacher. He always has a smile on his face! We love him because his class is fun. He makes learning interesting. We work at centers that we choose. Whenever we don't understand something, he never makes us feel dumb, but shows us how to do it. Our classroom it seems always has something broken. Some kids take parts from the module or break them and then Mr. Hufford has to go after work to Lowe's to get the part. We are always thankful that he does that after school so that we can be on the module the next day at school. The modules are fun.

Mr. Hufford tries to help us with technology, but also with any problems that 8th graders have, and believe me we have some.

He is a good teacher, so pick him for "the best teacher" award. He likes kids.

Ms. O'Brien has been a teacher at Lakeview Elementary for over 20 years! My daughter was fortunate enough to have been placed with her this year and her love for her teacher is bountiful. Ms. O'Brien is always available whenever you need to talk to her about anything-school or otherwise. She spends a great deal of time working one-on-one with each child. She is a great speaker for the environment and teaches the children about caring for it. Ms. O'Brien is also well-known in the community for her work with the Veterans and holds a beautiful Veteran's Day recognition at Lakeview every year to honor all of our heroes...She is most deserving of this great honor and would be a great representative for your "Tribute to Teachers"-it's definitely HER TURN to be recognized!

Ms. O'Brien teaches Kindergarten at Lakeview and does it flawlessly...Patti encourages children in every area of their academics and encourages them to excel as citizens too...she has instilled in my daughter a real desire to protect the environment through recycling efforts as well as taught the children to appreciate our soldiers overseas...Patti is very active around town working with Veterans, and she is instrumental in her involvement with the Annual Veterans Day Recognition Ceremony which brings veterans, young and old, together so the schools children can honor them...Patti has been at Lakeview over 20 years and is deeply deserving of this honor.

I am writing to nominate Wayne Weinstein, a fourth grade teacher at Sea Castle Elementary, who has demonstrated a commitment to educational excellence and enriches the lives of the students at his school. Wayne exemplifies what a teacher should be.....creative, giving, caring, positive, and hard-working. He is a role-model to his students, as he is to other students in the school.

As a teacher Wayne is kind and easy-going, but is strong as well, and is always in charge. Unfortunately, many students in the school do not have fathers in their lives, and in turn, sometimes they have a problem respecting women and listening to them. There are a few teachers in the school who will look for Wayne for support and help with dealing with their students when the need arises.

If you ask Wayne the main reason he went into teaching, he will tell you that it is because too many children today do not have positive male role models in their lives. He is one of only two male teachers at Sea Castle, a Title One school, where the majority of the students are on free or reduced lunch. Wayne will often buy school supplies for his students that cannot afford them. He brings in healthy snacks for his students when some of them come to school with empty bellies, making it hard to learn.

Filled with a non-threatening, welcoming environment, Wayne's nurtures his students and treats them as individuals. He has a never-ending willingness that all of his students reach their maximum potential.

At the end of the school day, after each and every non-stop day, Wayne could be found near the front of the student car line in the 90 degree heat. Always with a smile as he calls the names (of which he knows by heart), he helps the line run quickly and smoothly.

Popular with the students, Wayne is well-liked by the parents as well. He has wonderful, positive relationships with his students' parents, which start at the beginning of the school year. Siblings of past students of his, along with other students are often requesting Mr. Weinstein as a teacher.

Although teachers are not paid nearly enough of their worth, Wayne is completely satisfied with his job as a teacher. The reward he gets from the smiles and the accomplishments of his students gives him the all of the satisfaction he needs.

There is a famous saying that says "A teacher is like a lighthouse which shows the right path to people in darkness"....This is what I see when I see Wayne. He epitomizes what an excellent teacher should be and I appreciate you taking him into consideration!

Mrs. Beeler is definitely a rare commodity. She is caring, kind, patient, and seems to really love what she does. She is always keeping me updated on my child's progress and has his best interest at heart. Whenever I want to talk to her about my son, she always has or makes time to talk to me, and never treats me like some annoying parent, but always talks to me like on parent to another. I have been very pleased with the work she has done with my son and only foresee much more progress in the future with my son. She is very deserving of this award because she is an excellent teacher and has been a true blessing in my son and my life.

Mrs. Robbie Beeler, is one of the kindest, understanding teachers, I have ever encountered. She goes above the call of her duty by helping encourage students to do their best. She understands each child's ability and demonstrates extreme patience for those with disabilities. You can leave the school and have a worry free day at work because you know your child is in care that surpasses any other teacher. Please honor her, because she has honored and respected our children, for many years.

I first had the honor of meeting Ms. Beeler last year at another city school in Tuscaloosa that had a Pre-K program. My first impression of her was that of a teacher that possessed a deep passion for profession and her students. She teaches both special needs children as well as children that perform at the level of pre-schoolers, but if someone (with the untrained eye) were to go into her classroom, he/she wouldn't recognize the special needs children from the others. She has tailored her class time so that she can spend time with her students and get them ready to enter kindergarten. Ms. Beeler's love of teaching shows through her patience, her love for her students, and her willingness to go that extra mile for them. I whole-heartedly believe that she deserves this tribute and we need more teachers like her.

My daughter has learned so much from her teacher, Mrs. Beeler. She adores her teacher because she shows kindness to all of her students. She teaches in a fun and enjoyable way. One night for PTA, my daughter dressed as Tinkerbell in Peter Pan and after she completed her part we had to go but she was just crying, saying I want to stay with my teacher. Mrs., Beeler is an excellent educator who deserves to win this honor.

This gentleman has endured many hardships but continues to give his best to his students. He genuinely is a teacher at heart. Even when it seems that there is no hope, he springs to action and makes beautiful music with whoever his students are and their ability. He inspires and challenges students to be more than they ever dreamed possible.

Mrs. Cain is a phenomenal 1st grade teacher. We met at teacher orientation when my daughter was joining her class and she had a beautiful and energetic smile on her face. The smile hasn't left yet. She loves her students and treats them with such a love and respect that her students want to do well for her. They enjoy her class and love learning from her. She has a way of connecting with her students and making them feel as if she were there just for them and no one else. She truly cares about her kids and how they are progressing. Mrs. Cain is wonderful; I wish she could teach my child for the rest of her school years.

Mrs. Janet Ellis demonstrates on a daily basis the love a teacher has for her students. She has been teaching school for over 20 years and I have had the pleasure of working with her and I have seen first hand how she works with her students to bring them to the level they should be. The students respect her and I don't believe I have ever heard her raise her voice. My grandson has the privilege this year of being in her kindergarten class. It is very important for a kindergarten student to have a good base for the future and any of Mrs. Ellis' students get this plus discipline and respect. She is a wonderful teacher but most of all she treats her students the way she would want anyone to treat her own children. She is a great role model for her students and her peers.

Mrs. Ellis is a very dedicated kindergarten teacher. She has been teaching for twenty years. It’s hard to pick just one thing that Mrs. Ellis does well because she is such a good all around teacher. She stays late with kids and she will come early for those that can’t stay late. She is very good with special needs students and she always has former students dropping by just to say hello and to let her know how much they love her and appreciate what she has done for them. She is the head kindergarten teacher at her school and the younger teachers look to her for guidance and as an example of how to do it right. Mrs. Ellis is a loving mother, wife and a great teacher and anyone would tell you the same.

The teacher I want to nominate is Mrs. Dana Hudson; a LD teacher (learning disabilities). This special person, has truly been God Sent to my son while he was in elementary school she is truly a role model for every LD SPECIAL RESOURCE TEACHER., she is very devoted, to each and every child that is assigned to her. She gives 100% to help each student perform to the highest level. She pulls from every resource she has to help achieve the goals. She taught my son for 5 yrs, and the dedication and love that she gave him to learn to read and write, because my son had ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder). This meant he had real problems staying on task with anything; plus he's a little dyslexic. Mrs. Hudson took my son under her wing and he could truly stay on task and words cannot begin to express the joy my son felt when accomplished the goals of reading and remembering. Mrs. Hudson would just get as excited as my son did when he did read and keep attention on whatever task he was given.

Let me give you a small example, of what our life was like trying to get homework done with an ADD child: what would take probably 1 to 2 hrs. took us up to 3 or 4 because my son would have to get everything ready and to do work and if I ask him to go get a pencil by the time he would go to get it he stop and do several other things and by the time he found pencil and paper it might be hr. later , also we would read maybe 5 words for a spelling test and say all them and we would immediately go back over them and he couldn't remember them his mind was elsewhere so constant battle just to do simple homework and reading was just example of one subject. My son's prayer every night was that God would help him to read and stay on a task until it was completed. As a mother this was so heartbreaking to hear. So when he was tested for ADD their was very few teachers that new how to teach effectively much less to understand a mind of a ADD child and Mrs. Dana and worked very close but she was the one helped me understand how ADD works and that he needed to be special medication for this problem and how much of an improvement and his mind set it would help. After my son got on the proper medication he was able to stay on task a lot better and Mrs. Hudson helped him to focus on his studies and his self-esteem just went through the roof. Mrs. Hudson deserves this TRIBUTE TO TEACHER NOMINATION because not only has she been that SPECIAL TEACHER TO MY SON ,but she help me as a parent to how to effectively to understand a child with ADD .Of course, my son isn't the only child that has benefited from this talented , devoted, sincere, and very resourceful teacher. My son has now graduated from high school and I can truthfully say that he would not have made had it not been for Mrs. Hudson drive to help him stay on task and to complete his work. My only wish would have been that he could have had her as a teacher all through school, because none of his other teacher as good as they were couldn't hold a CANDLE to what my son learned from her. HAT'S OFF TO YOU. THANKS TO A VERY SPECIAL TEACHER WHO WILL BE REMEMBERED FOR A LONG TIME.

Because she is such a funny good teacher.

Mrs. Phillips is a 3rd grade teacher at our school. She is loved by her students and parents alike. She is widely respected by her peers as they voted her "teacher of the year" at our school for the 2006-2007 school year. Mrs. Phillips is always at school when her students arrive and she rarely misses a day. Her day is very organized so there is not a lot of wasted time. She is open and honest with parents and welcomes involvement. Mrs. Phillips' students respect and admire her. She is fair with discipline and is often asked by others for advice in that area. Mrs. Phillips is the coordinator of the positive behavior program at our school. My twin daughters said it best when they said, "We love 3rd grade. We always know what we are doing and what Mrs. Phillips expects." They have never said that before!!

Mrs. Phillips is also active in St. Agatha's Catholic Church where she teaches Sunday school.

As you can see, I can not say enough good things about her. I can think of no one else more deserving than Mrs. Phillips to be a recipient of this award. Thank you for your consideration.

Terrie is dedicated to the Mobile County Public schools. She has worked in many different schools and has taught and coached over 8,000 students in her 11 years of teaching and coaching. She loves her students no matter what school they are from and she remembers them even after they have left school. She has a relationship with her students for life. She is a well loved teacher and friend to both her students and her parents.

She is a very nice person, always willing to help.
She had been teaching for eleven years, her students adore her.
She tutors people with the Spanish Language.
She is a very hard working person, always helping everybody in her job.

Terrie is always helping students with problems with the Spanish language; she also had been a volunteer for many years as a coach for handicaps basketball team in Mobile.

She is an excellent teacher; she is always trying to help everybody.

Terrie is an excellent person and a great teacher. She had been teaching for 11 years, she loves to teach and she put love in everything she does.

I always had heard good comments about her and everybody loves her.

Ms. Purvis has always exhibited patience and kindness while teaching her students. She has always taken the needed reassurance while helping those students who sometimes need that vote of confidence when trying to master a new task. In her 11 years of teaching, she has always had the best interest of her students be her main concern. She has volunteered for numerous charitable events that provide not only monetary help, but emotional support as well.

Mrs. Purvis has helped many kids through her many years of teaching. I believe that the key values that she sets in our youth help them through the rest of their life.

Terrie is an amazing person and an even better teacher. She is completely dedicated to her students and their learning experience. She takes the time out of her busy schedule to tutor in the mornings before school and after school to ensure that her students succeed. I believe that Ms. Purvis would be an exceptional choice for your "Tribute to Teachers" winner.

Ms. Purvis is a very dedicated individual; this is shown by her work ethic. She strives to be the best teacher possible, and also takes on other jobs which encompass growth. She makes a happy and safe classroom environment for all students to learn. Ms. Purvis is a very positive and happy person and this reflects on her classroom management skills. I feel that Ms. Purvis would be an excellent choice for this wonderful opportunity.

Terrie is very kind, caring and truly concerned about the students she teaches. She actually cares and about their future and provides the tools the students need to move forward in this ever changing world. I believe Terrie is an asset to this community in every way. She is a philanthropist at heart and is very involved in this community. Anyone would be lucky to have Terrie Purvis teach their child. Terrie would definitely make sure that no child is ever left behind.

Although she has been in the public school system for eleven years, every new school year still brings joy and excitement to Terrie. She enjoys teaching her students to speak and write Spanish and sharing with them her knowledge of Bolivian culture. Terrie is a teacher that goes the extra mile to make the learning experience exciting and fun, for example she recruits our mom and her Latin friends to cook Spanish dishes and to teach her students Spanish dances. They also share their culture and customs which the students find very fascinating. Her students, past and present, absolutely love her because she teaches by example with kindness and respect which she in turn receives from her students. I have worked with several of her former students and when they realize that I am her sister they get all excited and exclaim, " I love Ms. Purvis, she made learning Spanish so much fun!". This is why I am proud to nominate my sister, Terrie Purvis for "Tribute to Teachers" as she is one of the best tributes to the field of teaching.

Terrie serves as a leader and an inspiration to everyone she meets. She is the most giving person I have ever known. She gives freely of herself and always does it because she wants to not for a pat on the back or reward. She is very dedicated to education and she loves to teach. She is involved in several community activities such as the mobile wheelchair basketball team and many fundraisers. She is truly and inspirational teacher and citizen.

Mrs. Underwood is a crazy math teacher that's why I picked her. Everyday she goes crazy over math. Mrs. Underwood is addicted to math. Everywhere in the morning on the board is math. That's why I picked her because she is a crazy math teacher.

Mrs. Underwood is my favorite teacher, because she is funny. She makes you laugh when you’re sad to make you have more tears. She is a crazy math teacher; she's in love with math. She will jump all over your desk to get you to do your work. (I still love her.)

The reason Mrs. Underwood is my favorite teacher is because she keeps me on track. When I do something she says "Come hear you nut". It might sound cruel but it’s actually funny. She is crazy like the cartoon character Taz.

Mrs. Underwood is the best, because she will let you ask. She will help you when you need it.

I nominated Mrs. Underwood because she has an after school tutoring. She helps everyone in every subject when they need help. I think Mrs. Underwood is a great teacher, because she cares for everyone. She has no favorites in the class. She cares for everyone the same. She understands you and she is the best teacher in the world. She is so sweet to me.

Mrs. Underwood is the best teacher in the world. She'll make you laugh your head off. She is also a great teacher. She will teach in a way where you will understand it. She is the greatest teacher in the whole wide world. If I could I would have her as my teacher for the rest of when I'm in school.

Mrs. Underwood may be crazy like a kooky bird, but she is really determined about our education. She gives us sixth grade homework, so we can learn more. You tell that she really cares about our education.

Mrs. Underwood is my favorite teacher, because she is crazy about math and school. She likes to teach, but we are a pain. We give her a headache, but she still loves us. We can get on her nerves, but she can still teach us real good.

The teacher that I want to win this prize is Mrs. Underwood at Walnut Grove Elementary. She goes crazy while teaching, helps children out and she gets on the children who misbehave.

Mrs. Underwood goes crazy while she is teaching, because she starts explaining so much that she can't stop speaking. But it is a good thing that she does explain things out.

She helps children that are stuck, because she knows that if they don't ask her they are going to fail. When they fail they can not go to the next grade.

Finally, she gets on to the children who misbehave, because she knows that if she doesn't get on them, no one will.

She helps everyone even if you are a stranger. She will yell at you if you misbehave.

Mrs. Underwood is my favorite teacher, because she doesn't give us work and then just leave the room. She sits down and explains how to do it and then she walks around to help us. In all of my other classes they just gave us the work and left and when they came back they told us to line up it's time to go. Mrs. Underwood has never done that and she never will.

Mrs. Underwood is the best because she is very serious about education, she always give talks about it. She helps us when we need help. She offers to take free time away to tutor us during PE and after school.

Mrs. Underwood is a great teacher. She makes the class laugh everyday. She makes sure I do my work and when I don't she gets on to me. She emails my mom at work to let her know how I'm doing. I have learned a lot from her.

Mrs. Wakefield is a wonderful teacher. She is always spending money out of her pocket to reward us for a job well done. She bought us donuts when we did well on a test, etc. She uses great technology to help us understand what we are studying better. She goes to fun websites and stuff. She is full of patience. She has to be patient to teach the Panther Team. We have 90 kids and we are bad a lot. Any ordinary person would go insane! Mrs. Wakefield is loving too; she really loves all of us, whether we are good or bad! She is amazing!

I think Mrs. Wakefield is a great 6th grade teacher because she is funny, talented, and really nice. She stays after school twice a week to tutor my sister and me in math and she isn't even our math teacher! I enjoy her being my teacher a lot. She's my favorite of all my teachers I have ever had! Everyone loves Mrs. Wakefield. She was teacher of the year for our whole school last year! That's a huge accomplishment; we have 1700 students and over 100 teachers! She didn't win any money for that! She could really use the shopping spree so she can continue to teach us so well!

Mrs. Wakefield is an awesome teacher! She makes learning fun and interesting! She uses a lot of her own money to benefit students in the classroom. She works really hard to motivate students to stay in school and to have a life after high school or even middle school for that matter. I enjoy her reading and language arts classes very much because of her enthusiastic way of teaching. She acts like she wants to be here, like she has a true love of children. She has a lot of fun with us and loves each and every student she teaches!