TEACHER'S CORNER: TEACHING OFFERS TEST, OPPORTUNITY TO GROW, SAYS EDUCATOR DILLOW

MCCLURE, Ill. -- Shawnee Elementary School District 84 educated Judy Dillow long before hiring her to educate others. Dillow, a fourth grade teacher in the district, has lived most of her life in McClure and began teaching in the school district in 1974, one year after she graduated from Southeast Missouri State University.

"It's a great honor to teach in the community where I grew up," she said.

Dillow has enjoyed the numerous challenges she has faced in her 24 years as an educator. Whether she was teaching in a regular classroom setting or a specialized Title I program didn't matter, she said, because she learned from the experiences.

"During my 24 years of teaching I've had a wide range of experiences which I view as opportunities for growth," she said. "When people ask me which experience I like best, I can honestly answer all of them, because I feel changes are good."

Dillow said her goal is to help students have a desire to learn and believe in themselves. It always helps to have a good support team, including parents, colleagues and administrators, she said. Family members can also provide support, she said.

"I've been especially lucky to have a sister who teaches fourth grade at another school in our district with whom to share ideas," she said. "Also, my daughter is a first-grade teacher in St. Louis County. She has been a source of enthusiasm and renewed inspiration. We share ideas and techniques by phone, mail and whenever we're together.

Contrary to what her students might think, Dillow said she doesn't always know the answers. Every day is a new learning experience, she said, and teachers have to do research just as students do.

"We have a song that says 'Every brand new day is a brand new way to start all over again," she said. "It's gratifying to know I have played a small part by giving each child a safe and secure environment which enables them to be confident in discovering the beauty of learning."