Teacher of the Year 2011

Each year, at the end of school, the annual Teacher of the Year Reception is held at the Tipton Home cafeteria. The school committee responsible for the event makes plans, collects donations for gifts for the recipients, and orders the cake(s). For the past seven or so years, I have been asked to decorate for the reception. It is something I enjoy doing - and especially enjoy trying to make the decorations "fit" the person who has one the award.

The more difficult task, though, is that our school also is over a juvenile center in Manitou and there is a "Teacher of the Year" selected from their faculty, as well.  I usually try to find out a little bit about the person, but sometimes that is hard.  To add to all of that, this year the committee decided to give a "Support Staff Person of the Year" and decided to keep it all a secret!  This made my decorating job more difficult, but it was kind of fun to be different, too.

An "Oscar" theme was chosen - mostly because it went well with our school colors of Vegas gold and black.  After a few weeks, it was announced that Mrs. (Coach) Tyler was the Tipton "Teacher of the Year".  Since I know her well and three of my children have had her for a teacher/coach, they helped me with ideas to personalize her table.  My children suggested Elvis and basketball.  Elvis went with the Oscar theme, so I asked a friend if I could borrow some of her items.  Just look at her Elvis memorabilia! 

As a special treat, "Elvis" (a.k.a. Mr. Kincannon, our high school principal) flew in (Yes, he IS alive! That very topic was debated in Coach Tyler's English classes earlier in the year.) to give Coach Tyler her award.  Congratulations, Coach Tyler!! (She doesn't too coach much now, but once a coach....always a "Coach"!! :)

So, for the Manitou teacher, I wasn't sure who it was until a few days before the reception.  She had taught my daughter in 4th grade and all Lauren could remember was that Mrs. Willis liked flip flops with flowers!  Another teen aged former students also remembered that Mrs. Willis liked shoes!  One of them also knew she liked basketball, so I went that route.  Didn't really go with "Oscar", but made it more personal for Mrs. Willis.  Congratulations, Mrs. Willis!

For the new "Support Person of the Year" award, not many people knew at all who had been selected.  I didn't even know until a little bit before the reception.  Why keep it a surprise?  For the suspense, of course, and also because if our sweet and efficient high school secretary had known she was receiving the award, she wouldn't have shown up!! :).  Mrs. Masoner is very deserving of this award and our school really wouldn't be the same without her.  She loves working with the students and teachers and her attitude and smile are blessings to all who know her. Congratulations, Mrs. Masoner!

One of Tipton Schools' hard-working employees is also a talented cake-baker/decorator.  Gloria made four star cakes for the reception.  They were beautiful and delicious!

With the "new" things the committee decided this year, little did I know that one of the new things involved me.  As another new award, the committee decided to have a "Volunteer of the Year" award and I was the recipient!  All of the school teachers, employees and probably most of the students know that I love my "job".  I love helping them with the fun things - parties and meals and decorating.  I have truly been blessed by God to be able to help and do things for the school. I thank Him for that blessing.  Thank you for the award, Tipton School staff!  That was very sweet and I appreciate your thoughtfulness.

The end of the reception marks the beginning of summer break for Tipton Schools.  We're all excited about that!  Have a great summer, everyone!

Train Up A Child

During this time of year, with honors being doled out at various assemblies and banquets, it's hard to not get caught up in the "moments" of it all.  Of course students are thrilled to receive the awards and parents (me included!) and grandparents are thrilled to see their loved ones receive the honors, but it's really, really important to keep these worldly honors in perspective - in the proper perspective.

Worldly honors will fade away.  Glory in this life may bring fame and fortune, but they will never mean anything in eternity.  Every award my child/children receive may be very well earned and deserved, but their heavenly and eternal reward and stars in their heavenly crown should be what matters to me....not some plaque that hangs on the wall or a trophy that sits on a shelf - or even money that helps them further their education (which is a blessing, for sure!)

Yesterday, when I received a bulletin from a neighboring town congregation, our preacher-friend, Tom Bailey, had written a timely post - directed at exactly where my mind had been the past few weeks - on training up a child and teaching them about what is really important.  So, I borrowed his post to share with you today! Here it is:

Children are our greatest assets. From the time God placed them within our care, parents have been concerned about their growth and development. We want them to have the best of everything.

The schooling of our children becomes paramount. We start them in pre-school so they can get ahead. We ask for the best teachers. We make plans for the best universities. Before they go into the world, we want them trained in the best possible way.

Are we concerned with their spiritual training? Does Bible Class carry the same weight as math class? Which has the greatest priority, Bible bowl or bowling at the local bowling alley? Church camp or basketball camp? Do our children know more about their ABC’s than they know about “A”dam, “B”ethlehem, and the “C”ross?

If we send children into the world unprepared they will struggle and fail, not only physically but also spiritually. If you are concerned about the spiritual success of your child, then you will see that he is trained in the precepts of God. Bible Class will become more important than any school class, Bible bowl becomes more important than any spelling bee, church camp will take priority during the summer. When we again prepare the souls of our children to face the world we will cease loosing so many of them to the world. “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Prov. 22:6 --Tom

Thank you, Tom!