Teachers honored at event
Posted on Thursday, April 17, 2008
BENTONVILLE - A good teacher must not only know his or her subject matter, but be a good listener and mentor and be excited about being in the classroom.
All these qualities and more are found in the teachers who were honored Wednesday night at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Bentonville. The church held its second annual teacher appreciation night, and students age 14 and older who attend the church were each asked to choose a teacher who had made a difference in his or her life. Several teachers were chosen by more than one student, making 46 teachers honored by nearly 80 students.
The event has two major purposes, coordinator Jan Saumweber said. First of all, it's to recognize excellence in teaching, she said. But it's also so that the students can have the chance to experience expressing gratitude. The evening's theme was "Way to Be," based on a book by Gordon Hinckley of the same name. The book provides nine character traits that all young people of faith are encouraged to hold. Many teachers were honored for helping the students develop these attributes.
All of the teachers were honored with the reading of tributes that their nominating students wrote about them. Each teacher was then awarded a tile that lists the nine "Be's": grateful, smart, clean, true, humble, prayerful, positive, still and involved.
The tributes that were read shared tales of teachers who made major differences in the students' lives. Lines such as "without you, I don't know what my life would be like right now "and "because of you, I'm going to make something of myself"resonated throughout the event.
Sarah Pugh, who teaches Advanced Placement European History at Bentonville High School, was one of the honorees.
"It's humbling to realize that they actually do notice what we do," she said. "It's at the end of the year, and we're all getting tired. To have someone say'thanks' gives us enough drive for the rest of the school year."
Todd Trudo and Josh Isabell were the two students who nominated Pugh.
"It's the way she keeps the class entertained," Trudo said. "We're always laughing, but we're learning at the same time."
Isabell agreed. "We were told to pick the teacher who instantly sticks out in our mind," he said. "(Pugh ) loves to teach. All the teachers here love to teach, and they love what they teach."
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