JAY NIXON OUTLINES TIGHTER RULES FOR GAMBLING OVERSIGHT: EDUCATORS HELD IN HIGH ESTEEM

Previously in this space we sent our congratulations to the five Cape Girardeau teachers who were honored as the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce's first Educators of the Year. The chamber plans to bestow the honors to other educators annually.

The recognition program was engineered within the chamber's education committee and was adopted with the chamber board of directors' blessings, a process that took about two years. During its development, input was sought from administrators and teachers. Teachers in all Cape Girardeau public, private and parochial schools were eligible for nomination for the honor, and a panel of five non-teachers selected the honorees. Criteria for selection was patterned after the Missouri Teachers Award.

On Tuesday night approximately 200 people attended a dinner to recognize the honorees, all of whom received a $250 cash award provide by five business sponsors.

It's good to see the chamber recognizing teachers for excellence in education. We commend the organization for its awareness of the importance of top-quality educators and for giving them the recognition they so well deserve.