TEACHER'S CORNER: SHAWNEE ELEMENTARY TEACHER SHOWS PASSION FOR HER STUDENTS

MCCLURE, Ill. -- Kathy Matlock has had a lifetime association with the Shawnee School District, where she is in her 12th year of teaching at Shawnee Elementary School South.

She is a native of McClure, Ill., where the elementary school is located. She, her husband Rollie, and sons Clay and Clinton all also attended the grade school and are graduates of Shawnee High School.

Matlock has always loved teaching young children. She worked with the local HeadStart program for 10 years while earning her teaching degree from Southeast Missouri State University. She then was hired in 1987 to teach kindergarten students at Shawnee Elementary South. She recently moved into a first-grade classroom at the school.

"They are full of life and still very eager to learn," she said. "My husband said he believes I'd remain in the classroom even if I won the lottery."

Working with young children usually results in some fairly humorous stories, she said. Many times, children are funny without knowing it. For example, last year Matlock said she had to deal with a sobbing kindergartener after lunch. After much comforting, the little girl said she had swallowed an apple seed during lunch and now feared for her life.

"The little boy next to her said the apple seed would grow into a tree, and when I looked at him, he was also ready to cry," said Matlock. "I reminded them that seeds need soil, water and sunlight to grow, and that I had swallowed many apple seeds as a child without any trees sprouting."

Matlock uses many teaching styles because she wants to reach "the various types of learners." Parent volunteers are also an asset to teachers, as is a genuine love for teaching, she said.

"An extra set of hands is always nice when you are doing hands-on activities," she said. "I feel parents are a very important part of their children's education and should be actively involved.

"When I think of all the people who hate their jobs, I thank God for giving me the challenge to teach and the blessing of enjoying it."