CELEBRATING THE ART OF TEACHING

Members of the Cape Girardeau education and business communities came together to celebrate the art of teaching Thursday at the Chamber of Commerce Educators of the Year banquet.

This was the fifth year the chamber's education committee has sponsored the event to recognize honorees for excellence in elementary and secondary education and administration. For the second year, the chamber's university relations committee also honored a fourth individual for excellence in university education.

Education committee chair Nancy Bray said honorees were first nominated by members of the community, then selected by a panel of judges through a lengthy application and interview process. Winners were selected because of their educational history, community and family involvement, philosophy of teaching and their results as teachers and administrators, she said.

Each winner received a $500 check, a crystal apple award; a copy of a video salute and a $50 gift certificate from JCPenneys.

"We're letting them know their efforts do mean something to the business community," said Bray. "It's a celebration of the art of teaching."

Joan Haring was the elementary education award recipient. Haring, a 27-year teaching veteran, teaches at St. Mary Cathedral Grade School and plans to retire when the school year ends. She said her teaching philosophy is based on a love for her job and for her students.

"My philosophy is based on love for the kids because I think when they know that, everything else falls in place," she said.

Donna Ellis, a foreign language instructor at Central High School, was the secondary education teacher of the year. Ellis, who is in her 29th year of teaching, said she developed her love of languages early on while living as an "Army brat" in various countries around the world with her family.

"Because of my background I knew that languages were something I loved, and luckily it was something I had an aptitude for," she said. "I hope my students look at me as a very knowledgeable person, but also as a very approachable person."

Washington Elementary School principal Barbara Blanchard was recognized as school administrator of the year. She said educators hold the keys to opening a child's eyes and enthusiasm for learning. Most often, those doors must be opened using a team approach, she said.

"I'm not the best administrator out there; I'm one of the people who goes out in the trenches everyday and works hard," she said.

Dr. David Kunz, Southeast Missouri State University professor of finance, received the university education award. Kunz, who with five years teaching experience, was the neophyte among the honorees, said he based his instruction on his experiences in the business world. He said the day-to-day challenges that come with working with students are tougher, but more rewarding than he expected.

"As an educator you interact with a different peer group and you're pushed to learn the theory behind the concept you're teaching," said Kunz. "I haven't been doing this very long, but I have learned that each day is a new experience and that we have to be prepared to meet the challenges of working with our students."