CAPE SCHOOLS PIN VETERAN TEACHERS

Barbara Blanchard still gets nervous and excited about the first day of school. And she's been in the classroom for more than 30 years as an educator in the Cape Girardeau School District.

"Every year it's something new," she said. "I get excited. It's like a renewal." Blanchard is principal at Washington Elementary School.

Seventy-eight district employees were honored with service pins Thursday during the annual teachers workshop. Teachers with at least 20 years of service received the pins.

The district last honored its teachers with pins at least 30 years ago.

No one knew that such a custom existed in the district, until we found a note in the archives, said Betty Chong, director of special services for the district.

A community relations committee spearheaded the drive. The committee is made up of teachers from each building and school board and community members.

"We had always recognized other people and not our own," said Jo Peukert, a committee member. Now the district plans to honor teachers every year.

"I will wear it with pride," Blanchard said of her pin. "It's a very nice thing to do and I think even the teachers that were in the audience appreciated it."

Although 30 teachers retired in May, the active teachers honored Thursday have more than 1,800 years of experience.

"People ask where have all the years gone, but I'm just as excited as when I was teaching first grade," Blanchard said.

The teachers who were honored really are the substance of the district, Peukert said. "They have been dedicated to the schools and loyal to the district."

Classes begin for Cape Girardeau teachers on Monday.

LONGTIME EMPLOYEES

Teachers and support staff who have worked for Cape Girardeau public schools 20 years or more were honored Thursday.

Ann Barlett 20

Sharon Bennett 23

Barbara Blanchard 30

Carol Brice 20

Mary R. Conrad 20

Cathy Cook 27

Sandra Cook 23

Buddie Craven 22

Eunice Curry 28

Kathy Davenport 21

Anita Dickerson 25

Betsy Dinkins 20

Joyce Edwards 25

Dorthlyn Evans 30

Nancy Gibson 29

David Giles 22

Joetta Giles 22

Myrnita Grantham 29

Charlotte Gregory 20

Kathryn Hannaford 24

Julia Harter 20

Janet Heady 20

Ruth Hedden 25

Sue Hellwege 26

Clarence Henry 20

Charles Hill 21

Linda Hill 26

Judith Holshouser 24

Ruth Kasten 29

Janet (Sue) Keesee 25

Sandra Kelley 20

Carol Kranawetter 21

Betty Landre 21

Donald Lang 32

Diane LeGrand 22

Margaret Little 20

Barbara Lohr 26

Margaret Loos 22

Sarah Lynch 24

Eleanor McBride 22

Janet Meyer 29

Lorna Mueller 20

Naomi Neal 27

Kenneth Ostendorf 23

John Patrick 23

Judith Peetz 31

Julius Phillips 21

Carol Reimann 28

Patricia Renard 23

Ruth Rhodes 25

Gerald Richards 29

Altha Robinson 20

Linda Schild 23

Annette Schuch 21

Betty Schuette 29

Pamela Schulte 20

Mary Ellen Shelton 22

Mae Willa Sherwood 26

Mark Sue Springer 33

Pamela Stovall 23

Nora Stranahan 27

Sandra Straubel 21

Robert Summers 24

Harold Tilley 20

Richard Wadlington 22

Wylene White 23

Mary Wilhite 24

Bonnie Wilkening 36

Roger Williams 27

Sharon Williams 25

Julie Wilson 20

Jerry Witvoet 27

Jerry Woemmel 34

Jane Womack 30