Michael Wolf, Chairman of the Beaumont A&M Club's Classroom Teacher Awards announces the following honorees of the Club's 2008 Outstanding Teacher Award:

•1.      Melanie Jean Bourne

Clifton J. Ozen Magnet High School

•2.      La Chandra Michelle Cobb

Central Medical Magnet High School

•3.      Pamala R. Johnson

Marshall Middle School

•4.      Deborah W. King

Eugene Field Elementary School

•5.      Leonard Todd Moses

West Brook High School

•6.      Cherie Ann Roux Warner

Monsignor Kelly High School

According to Michael Wolf, the recipients will be presented their awards Thursday, October 30, 2008 at 6:30 P.M., when the Beaumont A&M Club holds its 49^th Annual Classroom Teachers' Award Program and Dinner in the Parish Hall of St. Jude Catholic Church 6825 Gladys.  Each honoree will receive a check for $200.00 from the John K. Mattingly Memorial Fund, a Certificate of Recognition, and an engraved silver tray.

Michael Wolf reports that the classroom teachers named above were chosen by their colleagues for exemplary performance in the teaching profession, and the Beaumont A&M Club is privileged to honor them.  This annual ceremony is a tribute to the many excellent classroom teachers who have chosen as their profession the education of our community's youth.  It is intended to recognize innovative and results-oriented teachers and to raise public awareness of the importance of effective and committed teachers.

Keynote speaker at this year's program will be Larry Beaulieu, vice-president and general manager KFDM-TV, Beaumont, TX.

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: 2007 AWARD RECIPIENTS

LA CHANDRA MICHELLE COBB

CENTRAL MEDICAL MAGNET HIGH SCHOOL

La Chandra Cobb, a teacher for eleven years, has taught for BISD for over ten of those years, having first taught briefly at Port Arthur's Memorial High School.  But, even before that, she successfully tutored her peers when she was an undergraduate student.  Today she teaches Biology at Central Medical Magnet High School.  A graduate of West Brook High School, La Chandra Cobb then attended University of Southwestern (Lafayette, LA) where she was a cum laude graduate in Biology and Criminal Justice.  Currently she is pursuing her Masters degree in Education for Administration and Counseling at Lamar University.  During her years as a teacher, La Chandra has been recognized a total of nine times as Teacher of Month.  Projects in which she has been successfully involved include the following: created a lab manual for complete hands-on science; held study sessions for Boys Varsity Basketball Team during season to prevent failure; organized six week TAKS pull out Test Taking Skill Classes; and initiated a biology lecture binder for students and teachers.  Her proudest moments were the success of students as follows: 93% passing rate by students for 1999-2000 End of Course Biology Exam and twenty-three-point gain by students on 2006-07 Science TAKS. Teaching is her passion; and as an educator, she excels in getting her students to direct their energy in a positive manner and is proud every time that a child in her classroom succeeds, no matter the degree of success.  She is focused on helping her students reach whatever the next level of their education, helping them to open their eyes and their minds to have better lives.  Determined and dedicated teacher, La Chandra is also the proud mother of Joshua Fusilier.

MELANIE JEAN BOURNE

CLIFTON J OZEN MAGNET HIGH SCHOOL

Melanie Jean Bourne, a Journalism teacher at Clifton J. Ozen Magnet High School for five years, has been nominated two times by her peers to be considered for recognition by Beaumont A&M Club.  Melanie is a 1990 graduate of League City's Clear Creek High School.  During that same time, she also attended the high school vocation program at San Jacinto College, receiving Cosmetology certification.  She earned Associate Degree in Computer Information Systems at San Jacinto Junior College and Lamar Institute of Technology where she was recognized on President's List and Dean's List.  Melanie earned BA in Literature from the University of Houston (Clear Lake campus); certifications in English language arts (8 - 12) and journalism (8 - 12) from Lamar University; Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from American Intercontinental University OnLine.  An enthusiastic classroom teacher beyond the classroom, she serves as UIL Coach for Newspaper Writing, Editorial Writing, Headline Writing, and Feature Writing; advises the newspaper staff and the yearbook staff; produces the Brag Book at the end of each year which is a collection of campus events the staff and student body share with Board of Directors.  Melanie has attended numerous conferences to become more proficient in all that she does and even joined the Southeast Texas Association of Black Journalists as a means of advocating for her African American students.  Within the community, Melanie has served as Cub Scout leader in Three Rivers Council.  Both determined and driven, not only is Melanie focused on helping others to achieve their goals, but she also has the goal of completing two books: fiction story about a journalist who travels the world and non-fiction lessons about photography to assist other journalism teachers to teach their students.  Melanie and her husband Tres Bourne live in Lumberton; they are the proud parents of Lance and Haley.

LEONARD TODD MOSES

WEST BROOK HIGH SCHOOL

Leonard Todd Moses, while a teacher/coach for over nineteen years, has served only one year in BISD.  At West Brook Todd teaches 9^th grade World Geography and German and serves as 9^th grade coach for football, basketball and Junior Varsity.  Todd is a 1984 graduate of South Beauregard HS (DeRidder, LA) and 1988 graduate of McNeese State University with BS degree in Health and PE and minor in Social Studies.  His career began as a PE teacher at Westlake High School (Westlake, LA).  One year later he started teaching at East Beauregard High School (Dry Creek, LA) where he taught subjects ranging from Kindergarten PE to Senior Economics and just about every PE or Social Studies subject for seven years and coached a little of everything there too.  His next teaching job was in Warren, TX for five years; teaching 10^th grade World History and Senior Economics, serving as Academic Challenge Coach and coaching a bit of everything.  He was honored as Coach of the Year in 1998 and 1999.  Then he taught World Geography and coached football and was pitching coach for one year at Orangefield, TX; taught 9^th/10^th World Geography/World History for five years in Hardin-Jefferson School district, where he also taught 11^th grade US History and also coached.  Todd loves what he does so much that he does not really consider it to be work.  His advice to others is that to be effective they must love kids.  Todd's motto to his students, who have come back to share of the success in their lives, is Find a way!  He is proud that he had a hand in guiding them toward their success.  Married for nine years, Todd and his wife Mary Gayle Moses, who is also teacher/coach, have six children: Megan, Ky, Katie, Jake, BreAnna and Dylan; and Paw-Paw has one granddaughter: three-year-old Maggie.

CHERIE ANN ROUX WARNER

MONSIGNOR KELLY HIGH SCHOOL

Cherie Ann Warner, a veteran teacher and role model for twenty-seven years, has taught a total of fourteen years at Monsignor Kelly High School where she is currently teaching English I.  She was born into a family of enthusiastic teachers and remembers visiting her mom's classroom; she emulated what she saw in her mom's classroom by first "playing school" as the teacher for her two younger sisters and then becoming a professional teacher.  A cum laude graduate of South Park High School, Cherie also has BBA in Secretarial Science and MBA from Lamar University. She is certified in English and Business Education. Cherie's adult teaching trail began with teaching business classes in Vidor her first five years.  Then she became Vocational Office Education Coordinator and spent three years teaching office etiquette, job interview techniques, business English, filing, typing, business machines, business math, business law, etc, as well as placing seniors in an office environment and evaluating their on-the-job performance.  Cherie taught general business courses and English II for the US Department of Defense Dependents Schools for two years in New Ulm, Bavaria (Germany).  When first at Kelly, she taught religion and English II and IV.  She then became adjunct instructor of business communications and business English at Lamar University in Orange for three years; only to later rejoin the Kelly family to teach freshman English.  Cherie currently serves as National Honor Society advisor; but over the years she has helped with UIL competitions and with vocational educational organization fundraisers and participation in helping with Special Olympics.   Every year in Cherie's English I classroom, Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet come to life.  Because of her effectively fun-loving way of teaching, Cherie has been recognized as Kelly's Diocesan Educator of the Year.  Cherie and husband Richard Warner, married for thirty years, are the proud parents of Jeffrey.

DEBORAH W. KINGEUGENE FIELD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Deborah W. King, a first grade teacher at Eugene Field Elementary School, where she is also Master Reading Teacher and Technology Specialist, has been part of BISD for eleven years.  A native of Beaumont, Debbie's alma maters are Roy Guess Elementary, Austin Jr. High and Forest Park High School.  Following high school graduation in 1974, Debbie attended Lamar University for 3 years studying Criminal Justice; but a circuitous path delayed the actual earning of her Bachelors degree until 1998.  As adult college students with full-time jobs and children, she and her husband both made Dean's and President's Lists and graduated together.  Before teaching reading, Deborah served as part-time music teacher at Regina-Howell; children's choir leader in her church; private piano teacher in her home; music sub.  Debbie returned to Lamar State College in Orange, TX for course credit and certification as a Master Reading Teacher.  Besides engaging her daytime students to successfully learn, Debbie's other students include her fellow teachers for whom she hosts monthly workshops after school in the computer lab to disseminate computer updates and to explore new software; and parents, whom Debbie hopes to empower to better help their children at home.  A tenacious person in all that she does and an engaging teacher both to her students and to her peers, Debbie has been recognized in the following ways: Charles A Etheridge Teacher of the Year Award from her Field family (2007); Veterans of Foreign Wars Outstanding Educator Award on local and District levels (2008); Texas Association for the Improvement of Reading Bracken Award (2008). The latter award brought a monetary grant to the Field campus to assist its teachers with literacy projects.  As a member of Lions' Club, she is actively involved in securing eyeglasses for children in order to help them to read better.  Debbie and husband John, married for twenty-five years, are the proud parents of Katelyn King Fertitta (a teacher) and Adam.  They look forward to becoming grandparents in December and sharing the joy of books, reading and storytelling with the next generation!

PAMALA R. JOHNSONMARSHALL MIDDLE SCHOOL

Pamala R. Johnson, ten years a teacher for BISD, has taught for the past two years at Marshall Middle School, where she is currently 7^th grade English/Reading Teacher.  A 1973 graduate of Copperas Cove High School (Copperas Cove, TX), Pam's higher education includes the following: Associate Degree in General Education with honors from Central Texas College (Killeen, TX); BS in Business Administration from Our Lady of the Lake University (San Antonio) where she served as President of Kappa Pi Sigma (National Honorary Business Fraternity); Masters in Education from Southwest Texas State University with major in Secondary Education and minor in Business Administration.  Pam's academic record led to her being honored as Phi Beta Kappa.  She is certified to teach Gifted and Talented; English and Reading 4 - 8; Secondary Business 6 - 12.  Her teaching trail is as follows: from 1979-1984 she taught miscellaneous business courses to students of O. W. Holmes High School (San Antonio); in 1981 she taught "Testing and Measurement in the Classroom" at Southwest Texas State University (San Marcos); in 2003 she joined BISD as a substitute, primarily at Marshall Middle School; from 2004 - 2006 she taught 7 - 8 grade English/Language Arts to the students of M. L. King Middle School.  Currently, besides teaching, she also serves as Student Council sponsor, helping its members to work toward recognition as an Outstanding Student Council at Spring Convention, bringing to Beaumont a monetary prize that was donated to various community organizations.  She was on the BISD team that developed enrichment lessons for the new Bridges to Literature textbook for all middle school reading teachers.  Every year the reading students in her classes participate in Biography Cereal Boxes, whereby students do "fun" research and create a biography of a person who has made a positive contribution to society. Always focused, hardworking and making certain that she gives every teaching moment in and out of the classroom her best, Pam is known for the manner in which she supports and encourages students and teachers alike.  Over the years, Pam has received the following recognitions: Silver Beaver Award from Three Rivers Council Boy Scouts of America for teaching skills to young boys and for teaching adults how to be Scout leaders; Outstanding Campus Volunteer at both Marshall Middle School and Sallie Curtis Elementary; Lifetime PTA Award from Curtis PTA; Jefferson Award Nominee in 2000; Aggie Mom.  Married for thirty-four years, Pam and Bob are proud Aggie parents of Lauren 2006 (a teacher) and Wesley 2010.