TEACHER'S CORNER: AFTER 20 YEARS, TEACHER SAYS SHE STILL BELONGS IN CLASSROOM

EDITOR'S NOTE -- Alice Niswonger has not been teaching since her husband Dan, a Cape Girardeau police officer, was injured in a motorcycle accident while on duty. Her photograph was taken before the accident.

DELTA -- Alice Niswonger's career in education was sealed before she ever graduated from high school.

She's been teaching for 20 years, all of those years at Delta Elementary School. This is her third year of teaching second grade. Niswonger also taught kindergarten and first grade.

"I had considered teaching as a career, but made my final decision as a senior in high school," Niswonger recalled.

She participated in a cadet teaching program. Two hours a day she worked with second-graders under the supervision of her previous second-grade teacher.

"Working in this classroom I realized teaching was for me," she said. "My parents were very pleased, as my dad was a teacher. In fact, he taught 42 years before retiring."

Niswonger said working with youngsters generates close relationships.

"It is very amazing how attached some of your students become to you," she said.

She recalled a boy who missed the bus. When the school principal arranged a ride, he was very upset. He wanted his teacher, Mrs. Niswonger, to take him home. "Of course, I agreed and we had a happy little boy again."

Each day Niswonger makes a point to speak with each student individually. "Some days it is very difficult to accomplish, but I feel it is very important to their self-esteem," she said. "Even something as simple as `Good morning' or `I like your outfit' means so much to my students," she said.

Niswonger said she still thoroughly enjoys teaching and hopes to continue for many more years.

"Seeing my students' eyes light up and the joy you see when they finally understand a concept we have been working on is what is the most gratifying part of my job," she said.

Niswonger and her husband have two sons, Alex, 17 and Eric, 11.

They enjoy traveling and attending their sons' school, church and sporting activities. In her spare time Niswonger enjoys walking, counted cross-stitching and reading. She also plays handbells at church.

She is a member of Grace United Methodist Church, Delta R-5 Community Teachers Association, Missouri State Teachers Association, the Delta Parent Teachers Organization, Alma Schrader and Cape Central Parent Teachers Association and Alpha Delta Kappa education sorority.