CHAMBER HONORS FIVE EDUCATORS

"What a community I live in. What a job I've got."

Those words belonged to Central High School athletic director Terry Kitchen Thursday night, but they might have been used by any of the five honorees attending the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce's eighth annual Educators of the Year banquet.

The chamber education and university relations committees annually recognizes five educators from Cape Girardeau public, private, parochial or business schools for their work with students.

Individuals or groups nominate outstanding educators for the honor.

Winners are selected based on their educational history, community and family involvement, philosophy of teaching and their results as teachers and administrators.

Each honoree received a crystal apple, $500 check, and commemorative video.

This year's honorees included Kitchen; Brother David Migliorino, principal and theology teacher at Notre Dame Regional High School; Candy Hahs, Latin teacher at Saxony Lutheran High School; Mary Lou Shelton, math teacher at Central High School; and Dr. Ernest Kern, geosciences and science education teacher at Southeast Missouri State University.

Education committee chairman Bill Kiel said the honorees shared a love of teaching, had genuine respect and concern for their students and were recognized as honest, consistent and caring people who were dedicated to their jobs.

"They are committed to doing and being the best and inspiring their students to be their best," said Kiel during the banquet. "They have the lives of our kids in their hands and they do a tremendous job.".