TEACHER'S CORNER: FORMER TRAVEL AGENT FINDS MORE SATISFACTION IN TEACHING POSITION

BENTON -- First-year teacher Malissa Mier has a personalized list of 10 commandments on her classroom wall to manage student behavior.

Mier teaches third- and fourth-grade classes at St. Denis School. Her list of commandments include rules developed with her students that are considered the most important. In addition, a series of cards with students' names are placed prominently in the room with a schedule of punishments for bad behavior.

"At the end of each week, those who do not have overturned cards have their names placed in a bowl and I draw for a 'good gets good' gift," she said. "These gifts range from candy bars to posters. Sometimes I display the gift on Monday so the students have an added incentive to refrain from breaking any classroom rules."

Mier, a former travel agent in St. Louis, does not miss planning travel arrangements for large companies. In fact, she knew she needed a career change after she found she enjoyed helping friends grade papers and plan lessons.

"Two of my close friends were teachers, and I would help them grade their papers and plan their lessons on weekends," Mier said. "After a while, I moved back to Cape Girardeau and enrolled myself into the education program at Southeast Missouri State University."

Although her experience has been limited, Mier said she has found students provide teachers with a wealth of memories. "That is what I love the most about my job, that I get to laugh and cry almost every day," she said.

Mier and her husband, Chris, were married last July. Their blended family includes Nichole, Julie and Kevin Mier, three Chihuahua dogs and one Bichon Frise.