NEW TWIST IN 2000 EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD SELECTION

The Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce has added a new twist to its annual selection of outstanding educators: All-out competition.

The Education Committee, which annually honors four educators from Cape Girardeau public, private, parochial or business schools, is accepting nominations for its seventh annual Educator of the Year awards. Any person, group, colleague, student or parent in the community may nominate full-time teachers or administrators for an honor.

In the past, individuals were selected as top educators in elementary, secondary and administrative categories. A fourth category, post-secondary, also was selected by the chamber's University Committee.

Last year's winners were David Giles, then-assistant superintendent of elementary schools and curriculum; Pam Dumey, music teacher at Clippard Elementary School; Bonnie Matzat, English teacher at Louis J. Schultz School; and Dr. Ann Puryear Scheer, who teaches at Southeast Missouri State University.

With the exception of the post-secondary award, the categories will be eliminated this year, said Linda Minner of the Chamber of Commerce. Instead, the Education Committee will honor four individuals as overall outstanding educators.

"Now we're just going to have four awards," she said. "We always try to make some changes in the program."

Minner said nominations are just beginning to come in and will be accepted through the close of business Wednesday. Educators must be nominated in writing. Nominators are asked to sign their form and briefly explain why they believe their nominee should be recognized as outstanding in their field.

Nomination forms should be returned to the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 98, 1267 N. Mount Auburn Road, Cape Girardeau, Mo., 63702-0098.

Nominees will be sent applications which must be returned to the Chamber office by Feb. 16. A panel of judges will review nominees through an application and interview process.

Winners will be selected in the spring based on their educational history, community and family involvement, philosophy of teaching and their results as teachers and administrators. Awards will be presented in May.