Jo Durham • Southern Middle School, 6th grade Science

“Education never stops; we are always learning, and I'm very happy to be a part of the learning process.”

Tim Mitsumori • Lafayette High School, English as a Second Language

“I have a Japanese plaque in my classroom which says, 'Shippai wa seikou no moto,' meaning success comes from learning from one’s mistakes. As an ESL teacher, I find that many students are afraid to make mistakes speaking English. I provide a classroom environment where students can feel comfortable making mistakes and learning from them so that they will be successful outside school. I enjoy being able to teach and learn from a wonderful group of students from around the world who progress from being limited in English skills to becoming fluent English speakers.”

Paula Setser • Deep Springs Elementary School, Library Media Specialist

“When it comes to library instruction, I think B.F. Skinner summed it up when he stated, 'Education is what survives when what has been learned has been forgotten.' I want students to become independent learners who view the library as a vital resource for obtaining knowledge. As long as they have mastered the skills for locating information, students will always have access to a world of facts and statistics. They can continue to educate themselves long after I, and all their other teachers, are no longer around.”

Sally Vest • Cassidy Elementary School, 2nd grade

“As a teacher, it is my duty to give each child, according to their individual needs, the tools to learn.

“As a citizen, I value learning above all other achievements. Education is the cornerstone of progress and development at every level of society.

“Without education our world would never change, and the lives of our citizens, especially our children, would never improve. Because of this, each day I strive to give my students the tools to learn as well as the desire to use them.”