DISTRICT TEACHERS MEETING: FOUR HONORED FOR SERVICE TO EDUCATION IN REGION

As part of the annual district teachers meeting, four area educators are being honored for their years of work in education.

Recipients of this year's "Meritorious Service to Education in Southeast Missouri are S. Edward Sebaugh from Jackson public schools, Barbara A. Miller from Charleston public schools and a husband-and-wife team of Joann and Murray Sullivan of Sikeston public schools.

S. Edward Sebaugh's teaching career has sparked an interest in science for students who went on to become doctors, engineers and even an astronaut. He has been teaching science at Jackson High School for more than 30 years and has been chairman of the science department for the past 23 years.

Rita Rees, a current chemistry teacher at Jackson High School, is also Sebaugh's former student.

"I am a teacher today partly because of the respect I developed during my years as a student of Mr. Sebaugh," Rees said. "Over and over again, students return to thank him and to let him know how much they appreciate his guidance and his genuine love of teaching."

Barbara Miller has been an educator for 40 years in Southeast Missouri, and she still gets excited about the profession.

She has worked at Hearnes Elementary School in Charleston since 1969, as a first-grade teacher until 1990 and then as elementary counselor.

Throughout her career, she has continued taking courses and learning new skills. She has successfully written grants for innovative reading programs, which earned her national recognition. She has also received several awards for education in Charleston. Miller says she considers herself fortunate to have been able to do what she wanted for 40 years.

The husband and wife team of Joann and Murray Sullivan, both Sikeston High School teachers, have 73 years of teaching experience between them.

Joann, with 36 years of experience, teaches English and has been a drama instructor. For many years she has helped train student teachers from Southeast Missouri State University. A colleague said, "Joann is one of the most dedicated, hardest-working teachers I've ever been associated with in my 30 years in education."

Murray, with 37 years in the business, teaches biology. Throughout the years at Sikeston High School, he has also founded a Conservation Club, developed an outdoor lab, sponsored the Biology Club, directed the Sikeston High School Science Fair, and has served on various committees, all with plenty of good humor. One student said, "I don't think Mr. Sullivan ever feels bad."