DISTRICT TEACHERS MEETING: SOUTHEAST TEACHERS HEAD FOR CAPE GIRARDEAU FRIDAY

More than 3,000 Southeast Missouri teachers will converge on Cape Girardeau Friday for the 120th annual Southeast Missouri District Teachers Meeting.

For many students in the region, the meeting means a day off from school. But for teachers, the meeting is a chance to reflect on the teaching profession and recharge for the remainder of the school year.

Jo Peukert, a Cape Girardeau social studies teacher, is president of the Southeast District of the Missouri State Teachers Association. She will preside at the meeting.

The event starts Thursday evening with a banquet to honor teachers for their service to education. In addition, teachers will talk about educational issues and pending legislation.

The general session begins Friday at 9 a.m. at the Show Me Center.

Peukert, because she is president, has taken the opportunity to let Cape Girardeau shine. For example, Charlene Peyton, a Cape Girardeau music teacher, will sing the national anthem. Peyton is also president of Cape Girardeau's Community Teacher Association.

Dr. Richard Bollwerk, interim superintendent for Cape Girardeau schools, will lead the Pledge of Allegiance, the Cape Girardeau high school band will perform, and Mary Wilhite, a Cape Girardeau reading teacher, will present a tribute to teachers who died over the past year.

"People who are interested can come and join us," Peukert said.

Outside the meeting room, exhibitors will be showing new textbooks, technology and the latest in school supplies from globes to chemistry sets.

Teachers attending the meeting will hear motivational speaker Bill Sanders, whose topic is "Are we teaching or touching lives."

"People who have heard him, say he's outstanding," Peukert said.

A motivational speaker is particularly appropriate at this time of year, she said.

"As spring rolls around, your enthusiasm begins to wear down," she said. "It's a special treat for teachers to hear someone who energizes them back into the spirit of good teaching. Then they are ready to go back to the classroom."

In addition, the meeting provides an opportunity for teachers from different school districts throughout the regions to visit.

The afternoon schedule includes workshops in specific academic areas.

"These departmental meetings give teachers a chance to share ideas and see what's happening," Peukert said.

During the school year, teachers don't often have a chance to travel to other schools and watch other teachers at work. The workshops give teachers that chance to share ideas.

Last year, 3,600 people attended the meeting. About the same number is expected to attend this year.

Peukert said, "We take some time to enrich our own lives, and then take that back and share it with the kids."