A strong workforce begins in the classroom, said Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce President Steve Halter at Monday's annual Teacher of the Year Banquet.
Outstanding teachers and instructors from Three Rivers College, Poplar Bluff R-1 School District, Sacred Heart Catholic School and Westwood Baptist Academy gathered at Poplar Bluff High School to celebrate their collective passion for the profession.
"Everyone in this room, if you are an educator, you are training the future of our workforce," Halter said. "Essentially, you are what makes our business community successful or not successful."
Halter said whether a student heads straight into the workforce, a technical school, or attends a four-year college or university after graduation, teachers have laid the foundation for that child's future.
"We definitely appreciate what you do and we know you work hard," Halter said. "We have a great school system in our community and feel like that is a competitive advantage for Poplar Bluff, so we wanted to get you all together and say, 'Thank you,' for all that you do."
Of the teachers honored last night, videotaped interviews addressing their favorite teaching moments and advice they'd like to offer fellow teachers were shown.
TRC Industrial Technology Professor Elizabeth Deken shared a message to continue striving to get better. She said to go into teaching with a open mind but always look for ways to grow.
TRC Adjunct Professor Dr. Michael Malone said "when a students stumps you and asks you a question you don't know the answer to, admit it."
"Say, 'I'll find out what the answer is,' and then follow through. They respect that," Malone said.
Sacred Heart's Sister Gisela Pedraza said advice she would offer to fellow teachers is to simply "love a child as they are."
"We always have to try for the ones who need us most," said Pedraza, who is a missionary from Mexico. "Love a child as they are and once they (know), they are eager to learn."
Westwood Baptist Academy's Devona Robbins' story about the day a child arrived to school after being sprayed by a skunk brought the guests together in laughter. Robbins said as a new teacher, determining how to best handle the situation while keeping the affected kindergartner from feeling embarrassed left her perplexed.
Robbins said when she realized she was the teacher with the least amount of experience in the building, she knew there must be a teacher with the most experience in the building and that person is who she called to help remedy the situation.
Robbins said new teachers should never be afraid to ask questions and experienced teachers should never give up.
The Poplar Bluff R-1 District Teacher of the Year Deborah Harper reminded her colleagues and all of the banquet's guests to "pursue your passion, not your pension."
Other teachers honored include Mitchell Davis of Poplar Bluff High School; Courtney Rutledge, Poplar Bluff Junior High; Mandi Webster, Poplar Bluff Early Childhood Center; Cindy Robertson, Eugene Field Elementary; Amanda Johnson, Lake Road Elementary; Kristie Robinson, Oak Grove Elementary; Kadi Dare, O'Neal Elementary; Aleanna Moore, Poplar Bluff Middle School; and Chris Carpenter, Poplar Bluff Technical Career Center.
Teachers of the Year from Poplar Bluff R-1 have been featured in a series of individual stories in the Daily American Republic, with Davis and Carpenter remaining.