It's Never Too Late to Appreciate . . .

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Today is National Teacher Day, and this is Teacher Appreciation Week. Have you said or done something to thank your teachers for all that they do?

To mark this special week, the Center for Inspired Teaching held a contest asking Washington-area students to write short essays about how their teachers inspire them. From the more than 350 entries, the center picked three finalists. Congratulations to them -- and a big thank you to all teachers.

After receiving the winning essays, KidsPost asked the teachers about the students who nominated them. Here's what both sides had to say.

. . . IN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Dennis Stephens

Fairhill Elementary, Fairfax

Nominated by Camille Goold, 10

What Camille wrote:

"Mr. Stephens has taught me many important lessons that I needed to know. My favorite is, 'Everybody is good, but nobody is perfect.' This helped me understand that everybody makes mistakes, and we shouldn't be too hard on ourselves; but at the same time [he] encourages us to try our best. He makes sure that everyone understands what is expected and helps everyone to succeed, even if they need another chance. He makes learning as exciting as it can be by telling interesting stories from his life to go with each lesson. He is an honorable person who[m] I admire."

What Mr. Stephens said:

"Cami Goold is every teacher's delight! Cami works hard at everything she does. She takes school seriously, yet she has a great sense of humor.

"I tell my students to be truthful in all things and to be kind to each other. Cami has a high sense of honor, and she always sets a good example for other students in these areas. . . . She is one of our student council representatives, and her sense of duty to the class is always evident. Her hard work in school pays off because she has top grades. She pushes herself to take the 'extra steps' needed to be successful. She actively gets involved in many enrichment areas, and even though it means more work, she takes it in stride. She is learning every day, and her enthusiasm for learning is contagious."

. . . IN MIDDLE SCHOOL

Kendal Ann Galiber

Kenmoor Middle School, Landover

Nominated by Jonece Layne, 12, Beltsville

What Jonece wrote:

"In Ms. Galiber's Spanish II class there are 28 teachers and learners with a collective motto of la educación es la liberación. We live the language and culture by becoming news reporters, acting in plays and dressing up in sombreros during presentations to celebrate holidays such as La Tomatina. She encourages and guides us through the more difficult aspects of Spanish, such as tenses, with Spanish games. I look forward to her class because we think in the language for 72 minutes every day. Everyone contributes in her class, and each contribution is appreciated. She makes the language come alive."

What Ms. Galiber said:

"Jonece may have chosen me as the teacher that inspired her most, but in fact it is Jonece who is the inspiration. Jonece is the kind of student who comes to class every day eager to learn. She makes me want to be a better teacher so that she -- and other students like her -- will continue to come to class with that look in their eye that says, 'I can't wait to see what we are going to learn today.'

"In a time when many students her age are more concerned with video games and reality TV, Jonece is a shining light of inspiration in my day -- the kind of light that gives me, as a teacher, encouragement that I am still appreciated and that drives me to come to school every day and be the kind of inspiration she is to me."

. . . IN HIGH SCHOOL

Leo Bowman

Benjamin Banneker Academic High School, Washington

Nominated by Ariel Grant, 18, Washington

What Ariel wrote:

"As a senior at Banneker HS, several exceptional educators have taught me. However, none has been as inspirational or has taught at the caliber as my English teacher, Mr. Leo Bowman. Mr. Bowman never fails to present his students with captivating subject matter. 'To be or not to be . . .,' read Mr. Bowman as my class embarked on an unforgettable passage through William Shakespeare's 'Hamlet.' When we finished the play, Mr. Bowman sparked a flame in each of his students for learning. Mr. Bowman inspires me to always challenge myself and to learn from my surroundings."

What Mr. Bowman said:

"It has been very gratifying to see Ariel develop a keen interest in literature in her Advanced Placement Literature and Composition class. She enjoys close reading, which frequently requires re-reading novels, short stories, poetry and plays several times. Part of a close-reading exercise is to identify key passages in prose which are key to understanding how many elements such as tone, theme, characterization [and] conflict contribute [to] a work of literature as a whole.

"Ariel is frequently a leader in her class because she has the integrity of doing her reading in time for class. She has developed her literary analysis skills, and her participation and careful listening to her peers make her class an exciting one to teach."