Sandra Lee Shaw went home Monday night with $1,000 after being named Raleigh County’s Teacher of the Year.

But she said her greatest honor will come this morning, when she greets her students.

Shaw, a 25-year art teacher at Woodrow Wilson High School, was named the 2009-2010 Raleigh County Teacher of the Year Monday night, during a ceremony at the Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center. She received a plaque and $1,000 from the Beckley Area Foundation. Shaw was also the state’s Art Educator of the Year for 2008-2009, and she has National Board Certification.

“Forgive me for channeling Sally Field when I say, ‘You like me! You really, really like me!’” Shaw exclaimed when she received the award. “...This is a really, really special moment in time. It’s a real honor to be recognized by your peers and superiors. I will hold this dear for the rest of my life.

“But tomorrow morning, when I face my students — that will be my greatest reward. I’m one of those corny people who really loves what I do.”

Almost everyone has a teacher who inspired and led him or her to become the person he or she is today, Shaw said. For her, it was a college professor who encouraged her to study art when she originally planned to become an English teacher. When she was a public school student, art was not taught.

Shaw also considered herself fortunate to teach in West Virginia because she believes state education officials see the importance in fine arts education. Elsewhere, these programs have been cut or outright dropped.

“I believe that in 21st-century learning, the arts are core,” she said. “To have it elevated to academic status is very humbling and rewarding. It makes you feel like you’re a very important central component.

“It’s not about singing pretty songs, drawing pretty pictures or even developing artists. The majority of my students will probably never be artists. But all jobs require you to be creative, work well with others, communicate and solve problems.”

Edward E. Evans, an eighth-grade science teacher at Mount View High School in McDowell County, was the ceremony’s keynote speaker. The Woodrow Wilson High School graduate was named the 2008-2009 National Science Teacher of the Year, and he is the president of the West Virginia Science Teachers Association.

Evans emphasized a teacher’s responsibility is not filling students’ heads with facts. A teacher’s duty is to show students how to think and to inspire them as “molders” and “shapers.” They must also prepare their students as they cross county lines and state lines — often to where others only know West Virginia stereotypes.

At a Miami conference, he said people actually asked him if West Virginians wore shoes or had indoor plumbing.

“It sounds like the Bible verse, ‘Can nothing good come out of Nazareth?’” Evans said. “Can nothing good come out of West Virginia? You bet it can. We have to help our students cross the county lines and be prepared.”

Five Teacher of the Year finalists received $500 from Beckley Area Foundation. They are:

- Michele Carter, Shady Spring Elementary

- Vickie Aliff, Cranberry-Prosperity Elementary

- Sharon L. Keadle, Shady Spring High

- Lisa Dellamea, Stratton Elementary

- Linda Pannell, Lester Elementary

Other nominees for the award include:

- Jeffrey Wayne Lacy, Academy of Careers and Technology

- Rachel Halstead, Beckley Elementary

- Milinda Morrison, Beckley-Stratton Middle

- Julie A. Midkiff, Bradley Elementary

- Raymond Davidson, Clear Fork District Elementary

- Melissa Goodson, Coal City Elementary

- Kathleen McConnell, Crab Orchard Elementary

- Laura Fygetakes, Crescent Elementary

- Kelly Williams, Daniels Elementary

- Marlene Lucas, Fairdale Elementary

- Michelle L. Blankenship, Ghent Elementary

- Tammy Scarborough, Hollywood Elementary

- Larry E. Stewart, Independence High

- Debra Meador, Independence Middle

- Kristen August, Liberty High

- Bilie Arthur, Mabscott Elementary

- Dennis Dye, Marsh Fork Elementary

- Mary Jo Michael, Maxwell Hill Elementary

- Charlotte B. Wright, Park Middle

- Gina Martine, Shady Spring Middle

- Jaclyn Adams, Sophia-Soak Creek Elementary

- Caron Lynn Miller, Stanaford Elementary

- Gina Dye, Trap Hill Middle

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