TEACHER'S CORNER: BEVERLY HEMMENN COORDINATES LIBRARY AT OAK RIDGE R-6

OAK RIDGE - Beverly Hemman's ambition of teaching began as a child.

"One of my favorite childhood pastimes was playing school with my dolls and stuffed animals," Hemmann recalls. "It seems I have always wanted to be a teacher.

"As a parent, I now appreciate having summers off to spend with my children."

Hemmann is the librarian at Oak Ridge R-6 School. Her 18 years in education have been as a librarian or business education teacher, with 15 years at Oak Ridge.

She has a bachelor of science degree in business education from Southeast Missouri State University with a minor in library science.

Hemmann feels that the greatest challenge in education today is the competition with technology for the students' attention.

"Educators don't always have the resources or capabilities available to them as do computers, Nintendos or televisions," she said.

"We, as a society, want to be entertained and prefer instant gratification. Many times when I recommend a library book to a student, the response is, `Oh, I've already seen the movie.'

"However, a few weeks ago, I was rewarded by me efforts to get students to read.

"A young man, whose favorite pastime is not reading, returned a book to the library and said, `That was even better than the movie!' He asked for another book."

Hemmann says she enjoys the honesty and enthusiasm of young people.

"I love to watch students interact with each other and respond to their surroundings," she said.

"Children's eyes sparkle and dance as they see a display of new books in the library.

"One of the most gratifying things is to see one student helping another with homework or something not quite understood. I can't think of anything I would rather be doing."

Hemmann lives on a farm near Old Appleton with her husband, Dennis, and their three children; Jeffrey, 13, April, 7, and Jeremy, 4.

She enjoys gardening, reading, and counted cross stitch. She teaches Sunday School at Grace Lutheran Church at Uniontown.