DREAM BIG, SAYS MISSOURI'S TEACHER OF THE YEAR

Carol Reimann, wearing her trademark sequined-attire, told members of Cape Girardeau's Vision 2000 to dream big.

Reimann reigns as Missouri's Teacher of the Year, an honor she felt sure would be awarded to another. Despite the odds, she continued to dream big.

At a workshop for Teacher of the Year candidates, Reimann flunked the first two suggestions. Candidates were advised to dress conservatively and not to wear much jewelry.

But the selection committee liked Reimann's sparkles and her dedication to students, and she won the honor.

"My theme for this year has been and always will be `Sparkling for Excellence in Missouri Education.'"

Reimann spoke as the 10th annual Vision 2000 Awards of Distinction Ceremony held Thursday.

"This entire year has been filled with big dreams," she said. "I have enjoyed traveling throughout the state and in other parts of the nation as a representative of my profession."

Among the highlights was attending Space Camp. "I was the first attendee ever to have sequins on her flight suit," Reimann said. "I must tell you that I am afraid of water and heights. However, before I returned home, I had jumped off a three-story tower, backwards, in a parachute harness, hooked to a cable into eight and half feet of water, and did all of this on purpose."

Reimann has been a teacher 31 years and calculates she has been in contact with first grade children over 1 million hours.

"I believe you also touch the future in your personal and community lives," she told the group. "You are a designer and a sculptor of the future as you dream big. What big dreams Melvin Gateley had when he planted that first rose bush years ago.

"Please accept my challenge to dream big throughout your life. Your dreams are the building blocks of life and your actions the cement that forms the completed structure of your future."

Vision 2000 honorees are:

-- Allen Bornstein and Betty Campbell, members of Vision 2000's Community Relations Council. Their terms have expired, and they will be honored for their service on the committee.

-- Ted Coalter for his leadership in the Community Pride Coalition and the Haarig business area.

-- The Class of 2000 at Central High School and at Notre Dame High School for developing the idea of a Cape Girardeau city flag.

-- B.W. Harrison for his donation of funds that allowed Southeast Missouri State University to purchase the old St. Vincent Seminary property.

-- Dr. Charles Kupchella for his work with the Community Pride Coalition.

-- Judith Ann Lang for her work with the Community Pride Coalition, especially concerning downtown merchants.

-- Finley Maddox for his service to Vision 2000. Maddox annually photographs award recipients at the Vision 2000 awards presentation.

-- Dr. Esther Ongoa for her work in promoting early childhood education.

-- Tony Schuch for his work in developing Cape Girardeau's children's flag. He took the child's design and adapted it to be used as a flag.

-- Project Impact, the city's new disaster-resistance program.

-- Cape Girardeau's Planning and Zoning Commission.

-- Dan Tallent for his leadership as superintendent of Cape Girardeau public schools.