The Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce Education Committee honored their 2012 Educators of the Year this Tuesday.
Four outstanding educators, ranging from elementary to university level, were recognized.
Stacy Stapleton, a third grade teacher at Jefferson Elementary, was among the honorees. She says it is nice to see the community recognize educators for all of their hard work.
Stapleton says for her, teaching is a passion.
“I think I was born to do this and I think I’m good at it. And so I think it’s just kind of natural,” Stapleton said. “It feels right to do what I do. Yeah, I feel like I should be doing this.”
Stapleton has been in the teaching field for twenty-one years. She has spent the past seven years at Jefferson Elementary.
Fellow educators, students, and members of the local community gathered to show their support for the honorees.
Marty Vines, a Social Studies teacher at Cape Central High School, says he is fortunate to work in such a supportive atmosphere among other great educators.
Vines says he truly enjoys teaching and finds helping his students to be the most rewarding part of his work.
“Proudest accomplishments: mostly what my students have achieved, a lot of them have won multiple awards, the relationships you build with them. I have had grandparents and parents here coming up to me tonight. It’s just kind of neat, it just brings it all back. It’s worthwhile,” Vines said.
Vines has been in the teaching field for twelve years. This is his eleventh year at Cape Central.
The four honorees received the prestigious Crystal Apple Award, a check for five hundred dollars, and a commemorative video played at the banquet.