OUTSTANDING EDUCATORS GET CHAMBER AWARDS

Seven educators have been honored with this years Educator of the Year awards presented by the Cape Girardeau and Jackson chambers of commerce. The awards underscore the fact that our students are in good hands.

What was particularly interesting in this year's class of top educators is that each of them, either in their applications or in supporting documentation, exhibited a focus on students.

The mark of an outstanding educator always has been someone who addresses every problem and approaches every opportunity from the perspective of how students will benefit.

There is a great deal of personal satisfaction that can be taken by teachers who always put the students first. In most cases, the teachers who are remembered the longest by former students are those who displayed this noble characteristic.

Congratulations are in order for Ellen Lukens, a language-arts teacher at Jackson Middle School; Brenda Cain, head teacher at Gordonville Attendance Center, Cathy Boyd, family and consumer-science teacher at Jackson High School; David Giles, assistant superintendent of elementary schools and curriculum in the Cape Girardeau School District; Pam Dumey, music teacher at Clippard Elementary School; Bonnie Matzat, English teacher at Louis J. Schultz School; and Dr. Ann Puryear Scheer, who teaches at Southeast Missouri State University.