Poplar Bluff Early Childhood Teacher of the Year Pennie Ethridge

Pennie Ethridge learned from a high school English instructor the skills a true teacher should have and she’s used those talents with her own students during her career.

Ethridge is the Poplar Bluff Early Childhood Teacher of the Year. She’s received three other awards during her career: Kindergarten Center Teacher of the year 2010-2011; Eugene Field Teacher of the Year 2003-2004; and Walmart Teacher of the Year 2006.

Parents nominated her for the Walmart Teacher of the Year award and her peers submitted her name for the other honors.

Ethridge describes the teacher who inspired her as “amazing.”

“I had made a move to Poplar Bluff from Twin Rivers and I was really kind of struggling,” Ethridge said. “She was there always. She instilled in me education was not just you teaching kids academics, it was really caring about them and taking that extra step with students; to show them love, and to give them attention when it was needed.”

While she “felt very undeserving,” Ethridge admits, “I felt very flattered that my peers would nominate me. It was a shock. I’m an old teacher, basically, and I figured one of the newer, one of the younger girls would get it.

“I was it was a total shock to me, and I was pleasantly surprised. I felt like others were very well deserving. I’m not one that likes the spotlight. It’s a very high honor. I was ecstatic.”

Ethridge may have believe others were more worthy, but Debbie Harper disagrees.

“She is one of the most deserving candidates and would represent this school district in the most incredible way,” Harper wrote in a nomination document. “I have been fortunate to witness effective teaching ... Once in a while you encounter a teacher who has the gift or art of teaching - that ability to truly light up the classroom and that’s rare. Pennie Ethridge is one of those rare teachers.”

Students love Ethridge because she is kind, loving, fun and, most important, she cares about each of her students. Their parents are quick to agree.

“When our oldest child started school, we were given the gift we didn’t know we needed with her first teacher being Pennie,” Brooke Woodard said. “Pennie’s loving leadership not only helped our daughter with the big changes, but it gave my husband and I so much comfort as well.”

Co-worker Amanda Summers shares how Ethridge made a lasting impression on her as a college student beginning her education classes. Later, Summers and Ethridge became co-workers.

“She still taught with the same level of kindness and patience,” Summers said. “Pennie taught me the importance of establishing routine and procedures from the very beginning of your school year and how to guide and correct students in a manner that maintains the high, yet achievable expectations for her students.”

There isn’t a student who doesn’t love going to her, Summers said.