JACKSON CHAMBER NAMES EDUCATORS OF THE YEAR

Four educators with 92 years combined experience were honored by the Jackson Chamber of Commerce as the 1999 Educators of the Year Thursday.

The honorees were Denis McDowell (K-5), Dee Walker (6-9), Ed Sebaught (10-12) and Norman "Buzz" Thompson (administrator).

"I feel honored and humbled to be chosen," said McDowell, who has spent the past 11 years teaching. "I feel Jackson has and excellent staff. Teaching can sometimes be contagious. When you're with a good group. You strive to do better."

"The camaraderie among the staff and administration is just tremendous," agreed Sebaught, who has spent 37 of his 40 years teaching at Jackson. "We also have a high percentage of really good parents."

"The most important part is that the staff felt I deserved the honor," said Thompson, who has been a principal the past three years after 18 years in the classroom. "It makes me feel really good being recognized by my peers."

"Jackson has tremendous teamwork," Walker said. "The administrators, teachers, support staff, parents and district residents. It takes everybody working together to make the school system successful."

Walker called "seeing your kids dream and do their best and be excited about learning" as the highlight of teaching.

Sebaught agreed.

"Seeing kids grow is the highlight," he said. "Seeing them come in as sophomore, then leave as seniors. Seeing someone grow both physically mature and intellectually mature -- that's what I enjoy."

Below are biographies of each of the four winners, as provided by the chamber's Education Committee.

K - 5 Denise McDowell - Denise has been teaching for the past 11 years. She is married to Tom McDowell and has four school age children. She is currently is teaching second grade at North Elementary. She is involved in the Jackson CTA, the YES Program and last summer she when to a training institute to bring the Star Lab to North Elementary into our school system. We is well loved and respected by all her students and admired by her fellow co-workers.

6-9 Dee Walker - Dee has been teaching for the past 20 years, 16 of them here in Jackson. She is currently teaching seventh grade Science. Her "Branch Out Missouri" grant has provided Jackson Middle School with an outdoor classroom which not only allows students an opportunity to study nature but has also turned a bare field and ugly drainage ditch into a beautiful, foliated area. Dee has made it a point to water the trees in this area over the summer months. She is involved in the MSTA and the Jackson CTA. She is always willing to go that extra mile for her students.

10-12 Ed Sebaught - Ed has been teaching for the past 40 years, 37 of those here in Jackson. Ed is currently teaching 11th-12th grade Science. He is active in the MSTA, Jackson CTA, Student Council advisor. His positive attitude, high professional standards and personal integrity are models for those he teaches and works with. He has served the district admirably as a teacher, mentor, department head and briefly as an administrator.

Admin Norman "Buzz" Thompson - Buzz has been in the teaching field for the past 21 years, 18 years of classroom teaching and 3 years as principal. He is currently the principal at South Elementary. As one teacher put it: P = Personable, R = Respectful, I = Inspirational, N = Natural Leader, C = Cares for children and staff, I = Intellectual, P = Positive, A = Active in schools and community, L = Loves children. Buzz has been active in the Girls softball, Girls Optimist Basketball, President Adult/Youth Bowling League, T-Ball, Soccer & Cub Scouts.