TEACHER'S CORNER: CATO TEACHES FIRST GRADE AT THE CAPE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL

Lisa Cato sometimes wonders who is the teacher in her first grade class at Cape Christian School.

"I probably have learned more from my students than they have from me," Cato said. "I love my job, and I enjoy my students. Each day they are learning and growing."

Cato is in her second year of teaching. A graduate of Zalma High School where she was class valedictorian, she received a bachelor's degree in elementary education, with a specialization in early childhood education from Southeast Missouri State University.

She credits her fourth grade teacher and her mother for her desire to become a teacher. She grew up in a family of eight children.

"I had a great experience in my elementary school years," Cato said.

She is amazed at the progress her students make and the difference in them at the end of a school year.

"When they conquer new and difficult tasks, I love to see the joy of success on their faces," she said.

Cato likes teaching in a small school.

"Our class is small, and we are all like family," she said.

"Each teacher teaches a special subject, like choir, speech, or drama. This gives us an opportunity to teach every child in the school from first to sixth grade each week.

"We get to do special activities, such as visit nursing homes and the Veterans Home once a month.

"Also, we sometimes incorporate special events into our physical education program including bowling and ice skating. It's a wonderful time to spend with the students outside of the classroom."

Cato remembers the first day of school when she asked her students to get out their books.

"One of my students gave me a blank look and said, `I can't read.' So I said, `That's why you're in first grade, to learn how to read.'"

Cato has praise for the school's support group.

"Everyone involved from the administration, to the staff and to the parents have a common goal: for the children to receive a quality education in a Christian atmosphere," she said.