TEACHERS MAKE THE GRADE

Tammy Sue Brotherton always admired and respected her school teachers.

"My teachers were always real positive and had good thoughts to share with the class," said Brotherton. "I tried a couple of different things after graduating from college. All of my jobs were in the helping field.

"So I started teaching -- I guess I'm just that type of person," she said. "It turned out to be the best thing I ever did. I definitely made the right career choice."

Brotherton was one of five teachers named April 1 as "Educators of the Year" by the Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce Education Committee. The five will be honored at an awards dinner Tuesday at the Drury Lodge.

Brotherton, who received the chamber's secondary education award, is a social studies teacher at L.J. Schultz School, and has taught for five years.

"Students in that area are tough to teach," she said. "They are going through a lot, and oftentimes school is the last thing on their minds.

"So I try to let each one of my students know in some way that I care about them," she said. "People don't know how you feel about them unless you make the concerted effort to tell them."

This year, Brotherton found something good, something outstanding or something well done by each student, and sent them a little note of appreciation while they were in another teacher's class.

"I try and let my students know I noticed what they were doing or saw them doing something good," she said. "I believe it really makes a difference."

That is why Brotherton considers her greatest personal attribute is her ability to build interpersonal relationships with her students.

"Students perform better when they know their teacher cares," she said. "I let them know that as their teacher, I respect them."

Carol Reimann, a first-grade teacher at Clippard Elementary School, received the elementary education award this year. She has been teaching for 26 years.

"Education must be a very positive experience, especially in the first grade," she said in her application. "I truly feel that I have a great responsibility because this first year of real school sets the tone and feelings for many educational experiences for years in the future."

Diane LeGrand teaches first grade with Reimann.

"I think any parent would be happy to have a child in her classroom," LeGrand said. "I know I would be happy to have my child in her classroom.

"She's really a positive person, always cheerful."

LeGrand said Reimann makes an effort to know each child and his or her family.

"She does more than teach. She shows a genuine love for the children. She has lots of patience and is very upbeat," LeGrand said.

In first grade, there is no "down time." Children and their teachers are on the go the entire day.

"The children feel comfortable and enjoy coming to school," LeGrand said. "It's a pleasant place to be."

Marjorie Engleman has taught learning impaired and/or handicapped children since 1972. And on the eve of her retirement, she was honored for her teaching.

"It was the thrill of a lifetime," she said. "It's really my third thrill. My husband and family come first, but this isn't far behind.

"This is just so exciting," Engleman added. "I feel so honored to have the support of my friends, my family, my colleagues and everyone else who made this possible."

Engleman said that every day in the classroom presents a challenge for her and her special students.

"The key is motivation and finding exactly what it is that will motivate a particular student," she said. "You have to know your children and know what is going to make them want to learn. That's what it all boils down to."

She said she works to develop individualized programs with her students, so they can learn at their own pace without pressure from peers.

"Some children in my advance reading section will read a book and go straight to a computer program to take a test where they receive immediate feedback," she said. "Others don't like the computer, and respond better to rewards like a piece of candy or a pencil, or even having lunch with the teacher."

Sister Mary Ann Fischer, principal of Notre Dame High School, received the administration award from the chamber. She has worked in the education field for 27 years, and still enjoys every minute.

"`To educate means enabling persons to reach the fullness of their potential as individuals created in God's image and assisting them to direct their gifts toward building the earth.' These words appear in a poster hanging on the wall in my office, reminding me of why I am here," she said.

"I am very honored to have been selected for this award," Fischer said. "I think it's a tribute to what we're trying to do here at Notre Dame."

She has served 16 years as an administrator.

"As principal of a Catholic high school, I really focus on improving the academic performance and strengthening religious education at the school.

"I'm really energized by working with the young people and by realizing that I do make a difference in their lives -- even though it may take awhile for them to realize it too," she said.

"I really enjoy working with parents, staff and students here at Notre Dame. I meet a lot of very committed people on a daily basis, people committed to Catholic education."

Joseph "Bud" Thompson has spent years building a reputation in the community. This year, he is being recognized as vocational educator of the year.

"I was surprised," he said of learning he had been chosen as one of the honorees. "I come from a family of educators -- my wife is a teacher, as are about five of my brothers and sisters -- so this came pretty naturally to me."

Thompson teaches Building Trades I and II at the Cape Girardeau Vocational-Technical School. He has been teaching for the last 13 years.

"The goal of education is to accept each student as he is, to share with him a given curriculum, to open the doors of communication and to let the student discover where that knowledge takes him," he said.

Thompson takes his students to new heights as his building classes construct a house from the ground up.

"The school buys the property and supplies and we construct the home," he said. "Most of the time we have to start from ground zero -- not so many people have experience in construction anymore. Their dads just don't build anything."

The class uses modified house plans from books or those drawn up by architectural students.

"I was a contractor in this area for several years," he said. "I thought it was time to give something back -- to teach some other people what I had learned through experience."