JERRY MCDOWELL NAMED WAL-MART TEACHER OF THE YEAR

CHARLESTON -- Charleston educator Jerry McDowell has been named the 1997 Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year for excellence in teaching.

He was honored during a surprise ceremony on Aug. 16 at the Clara Drinkwater Newnam Auditorium in Charleston. In appreciation for his dedication, Wal-Mart presented a $500 grant to the school.

McDowell, a music teacher at Charleston Middle School, was selected out of a pool of entries from 13 Wal-Mart stores in Southeast Missouri. He was one of 1,500 national winners who received a total of $750,000 in grants for their schools or districts.

The teachers were nominated for the award by someone from their school or district. Winners were selected by a panel of local community leaders. McDowell's nominator remains unknown to local store representatives, but they did receive a copy of the nominating letter.

"His style of teaching, his technique and his expectations for learning are above and beyond the call of duty to his profession," wrote the nominator. "He has great rapport with the community, especially the students. They think he's "cool" and wonderful. He has a kind voice that has the calming effect that can soothe the savage beast, but also the special effect to reach the child who needs special supportive attention. He's the 'Music Man.'"

As the winning entry, he now competes against other district winners in a statewide contest.