BANQUET HONORS TEACHERS

Some 350 people gathered to celebrate the art of teaching at the 200 Educators of the Year banquet Thursday night.

Jacqueline Brandtner, Barbara A. Egbert, Gail Fairbanks, Bill Springer and Dr. Charles R. Wiles all were recognized at the event held at the Drury Lodge. The banquet was sponsored by the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce Education and University Relations committees to recognize excellence in education and bring education and business communities closer together.

This was the seventh year the chamber's education committee sponsored the program. The university relations committee added the higher education category to the competition in 1997.

The Notre Dame Regional High School choirs provided musical entertainment and videotaped salutes of each honoree were shown prior to their introductions. Honorees received a cash award of $500 each and a crystal apple of recognition. Each also will receive a complimentary copy of the videotaped salute.

Each of the honorees shared memorable experiences to explain why they became educators and remain in the field. Brandnter, who teaches at Deer Creek Christian Academy, and Springer, a Central High School English and history teacher, both said part of their devotion is owed to extremely bad experiences they encountered as children.

"I hated every single day I ever spent in school," said Brandtner. "It was only after I realized I was not going to become a Carmelite nun that I decided it might be worth considering."

Springer said he identified his gift at an early age.

"I had what was probably the worst teacher in the world in the third grade," he said. "I figured I was only 10, but I could do a better job than she did."

Despite their experiences, the honorees said they continue to teach because of their students.

Fairbanks, who works with behavior disorder students, said she uses a team approach to help her students "learn about love, caring for other people and making good choices."

Egbert, a Franklin Elementary School kindergarten teacher, enjoys the new lessons she and her students share.

"I learn from every single child every single day," she said.