[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 70 (Monday, May 1, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5861-S5864]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


   IN HONOR OF SOUTH DAKOTA'S 1995 TEACHER OF THE YEAR, BECKY EKELAND

  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, I want to congratulate the 1995 South 
Dakota Teacher of the Year, Becky Ekeland. I can attest to the fact 
that this is an honor she well deserves.
  Being selected Teacher of the Year is a most significant 
accomplishment. It means you have gained the utmost respect of your 
colleagues and students. Becky Ekeland was nominated by her fellow 
teaching staff in the Brookings School District and ultimately selected 
by a committee of statewide officials.
  Ms. Ekeland is an English teacher at Brookings High School. She has 
been an educator for 20 years. South Dakotans, especially the students 
of Brookings, are extremely fortunate to have Mrs. Ekeland in our 
State.
  Mrs. Ekeland's dedication to her students is evidenced in a hundred 
different ways. One example is the grammar lessons she creates each 
year. Rather than relying on a textbook, she tailors her lessons to the 
specific needs of each class. It's her way, she said, of showing her 
students how the English language works and what it means in their day-
to-day lives.
  Schools have undergone enormous change in the 20 years since Mrs. 
Ekeland began her career. One of the most profound changes is the 
tremendous new demands placed on parents. Many children now come from 
single-parent families. In other families, two parents work two and 
even three jobs just to make ends meet.
  A teacher's job is always demanding, but it become even more 
difficult when teachers have to fill in as parents, too.
  Given the increasing pressure on our schools--and our increasing need 
for good schools, now is not the time to be cutting educational 
resources.
  In coming weeks, as we debate next year's budget, let us remember 
what President Kennedy said: ``A child miseducated is a child lost. And 
let us pledge to give America's students and teachers the support they 
need to succeed. In a real sense, they are our future.''
  I want to mention a few things Becky Ekeland is working to improve 
the teaching profession and make that future more secure.
  First, she is a positive voice in the community, letting people know 
the good things that happen in the school.
  She participates in professional organizations.
  She takes seriously her responsibility to be a good example, 
demanding from herself what we all should be able to expect from our 
teachers.
  she attends classes, workshops, seminars and conventions in an effort 
to constantly improve herself and her educational skills.
  The greatest testament to Ms. Ekeland's skill comes from her fellow 
staffers and former students.
  The counselor at Brookings High School describes her as ``self-
motivated, conscientious,
 responsible, dependable, a professional individual, always willing to 
give 110 percent while at work; another 110 percent worth of quality 
time when at home with her family.''
  [[Page S5862]] Her principal at Brookings High School calls Mrs. 
Ekeland ``an outstanding educator. Becky is first and foremost a caring 
person,'' he says ``who places a high priority on helping others * * * 
she establishes relationships with students that serve to increase 
their motivation, confidence and achievement * * * Becky has always 
demonstrated strong classroom organizational skills and a commitment to 
instruction that causes students to be actively engaged in learning 
through ways that are meaningful to them.''
  A former student writes, ``Rebecca Ekeland is truly one in a million. 
I have never come across anyone who dedicates so much energy to one 
task--educating the children of Brookings, South Dakota. She puts her 
heart and soul into the success of every single student that enters her 
classroom. To me this is what teaching is all about.''
  Mr. President, I am honored to commend such an outstanding teacher 
and to congratulate her on her well-deserved recognition.
  At this time, I would ask that Ms. Ekeland's essays and the letters 
of recommendations from which I read be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                             Becky Ekeland


                         professional biography

       A. What were the factors that influenced you to become a 
     teacher? Describe what you consider to be your greatest 
     contributions and accomplishments in education.
       As the daughter of a Lutheran minister and an English 
     teacher, I grew up in a home where a career meant working 
     with people and helping people. I could see that my parents' 
     professions were very rewarding and that they had the love 
     and respect of many people. I was very proud of them and 
     wanted to be like them. they must have had the same effect on 
     my siblings because my brother is a special education teacher 
     and my sister is a social worker who works as a legal 
     advocate for people with mental illness. We all feel a strong 
     desire to serve others and in return gain great self-
     satisfaction.
       When I was growing up, school was always a wonderful place 
     to be, and I have fond memories of warm, caring, dedicated 
     teachers, and so, even though I briefly entertained notions 
     of being a missionary or a social worker, I guess I always 
     planned on being a teacher. Someone said once that good 
     teachers love both their students and their subject, so I 
     guess I've got it made!
       My greatest accomplishments in education have probably come 
     from my dedication to my students. For example, for years I 
     have written my own grammar units rather than relying on a 
     textbook. I want my students to see the whole picture of how 
     our language works and have them apply this knowledge to 
     their own writing through exercises and lessons that are 
     tailored for each class. I rewrite my grammar unit every year 
     to meet my students needs.
       Another example is how I have developed my yearbook class. 
     When I started 10 years ago I had no experience and no staff! 
     I took some workshops and recruited great students. Yearbook 
     has evolved from a Monday night extracurricular activity into 
     an accredited class with the students and the book 
     consistently winning top awards in yearbook journalism. I am 
     especially of this class because my role as a mentor and an 
     adviser. The book is completely student produced. I love to 
     see how the confidence and creativity blossom when kids are 
     in charge of something they are proud of.
       I am trying to use the lessons I have learned in this 
     yearbook class in my English 9 class. By giving students some 
     control in what they study and in how they tackle a task they 
     have more success. One unit that has worked especially well 
     is the I-Search paper. Students must pick their own topic, 
     one that has personal value and meaning to them, and then 
     research it, with their primary source of information being 
     other people. The students conducted interviews and write 
     letters to gain their information.
       One thing that brings me great satisfaction is the 
     relationships I have with many of my students. I encourage my 
     students to come in and see me when they need someone to talk 
     to. I think I'm someone they trust and find easy to talk to 
     because many kids do come in. This is a very important part 
     of my job--to be a compassionate, caring, good listener. I 
     treat my students with respect and they, in turn, treat me 
     with respect. I rarely have discipline problems because of 
     this. I start every school year by explaining that the only 
     behavior rule in my classroom is the Golden Rule. I tell the 
     students that I want my classroom to be a friendly and safe 
     place for everyone, including me, and that I want everyone to 
     feel good about coming to English class. It generally works, 
     and my classroom is truly a fun place to be!
       One thing I'm proud of is that I have been employed for 20 
     years! I have moved five times to different states and 
     communities following my husband's career. Competition for 
     teaching positions has always been keen, but in each of these 
     places I have been able to secure a teaching position. I am 
     especially pleased to be teaching in Brookings.
       My greatest professional joy is when graduates come back to 
     tell me about their accomplishments and to thank me for 
     whatever role I may have played. One of them recently wrote, 
     ``You are my favorite teacher, I'll remember you always for 
     being willing to listen to my problems and helping me out and 
     putting up with me . . . I can not tell you how much better 
     you have made my life.'' I work very hard to do the right 
     things for my students--taking classes, writing units, 
     experimenting with different styles, taking time to get to 
     know them, etc.--but it's messages like that that make it all 
     worthwhile. I am a very lucky person to have such a wonderful 
     job.
                         Community Involvement

       A. Describe your commitment to your community through 
     service-oriented activities such as volunteer work, civic and 
     other group activities.
       Community and church activities are important because of 
     the services they often provide and because they help me to 
     grow as a person, but it is very important to me to have 
     balance in my life. I have very strong feelings about 
     maintaining quality family time in the evenings. When I'm at 
     school I give 100% to my students and my job, but during 
     evenings and weekends my family comes first. This is 
     obviously important for my children, but I think it is also 
     important for me and ultimately reflects on all aspects of my 
     life. I am healthier and more energetic in the classroom 
     because I am not spread too thin. I refuse to join too many 
     organizations at one time because they take me away from my 
     job and my family, so I pick and choose thoughtfully and say 
     no when I have to. The organizations that I'm involved in are 
     ones that I feel are important. I also hope to demonstrate to 
     my children the worth of these organizations and role model 
     for them the importance of getting involved in things that 
     can make a difference.
       Right now my outside activities are mostly in my church. I 
     am a member of Ascension Lutheran where I am a Sunday School 
     teacher and a member of the Rebekah Circle. I have also 
     served as a Church Council member, a member of various 
     boards, and as a choir member. In my former church I also 
     served as a Confirmation teacher and as a Luther League 
     adviser.
       In the past I have been a college sorority adviser, a 
     member of Alpha Delta Kappa (an honorary teachers' sorority), 
     a United Fund committee member, and I have worked on various 
     political campaigns for candidates who share the same views 
     on education that I do. My goal for this coming year is to 
     become involved in Habitat for Humanity here in Brookings.


                         Philosophy of Teaching

       A. Describe your personal feelings and beliefs about 
     teaching, including your own ideas of what makes you an 
     outstanding teacher. Describe the rewards you find in 
     teaching.
       B. How are your beliefs about teaching demonstrated in your 
     personal teaching style?
       As a teacher, it is my goal to promote intellectual and 
     character development in my students. I want each student to 
     have a good understanding of the material in my curriculum, 
     of course, but it is equally important to me that they enjoy 
     the learning process so that it will continue long after they 
     leave my classroom. It is my desire to help my students reach 
     their highest goals and become productive citizens. I try 
     very hard to be a role model, a mentor, a good listener, and 
     a friend.
       I start each school year with only one conduct rule--the 
     Golden Rule. I discuss with the students what it means to 
     treat others the way they would like to be treated and how 
     important this attitude is. I want my students to feel 
     comfortable in my room, to know that this is a caring, warm 
     place where they can feel good about themselves and the 
     subject. Generally that rule takes care of any discipline 
     problems before they ever arise. A gentle reminder to ``be 
     nice'' is usually all that is needed! This rule helps provide 
     an atmosphere that encourages learning, and it also helps 
     students achieve self-control.
       In class discussions I try to draw responses from all 
     students, encouraging higher-order thinking skills. I like to 
     give compliments and positive feedback because I think this 
     encourages students to participate. Everybody likes to be 
     praised, and most kids like to talk if they don't feel 
     threatened. I have also started using the portfolio as a 
     means of assessment. It is a true indicator of a student's 
     accomplishments and provides a means for each student to see 
     his or her growth through the year.
       I know all students can learn, so I try to provide for 
     different learning styles. I also work very closely with the 
     special education teachers to meet the needs of students on 
     IEPs. For example, one year I had a blind student. Following 
     guidance from the special education teachers, I had his 
     worksheets Brailed, had him tape lectures, and provided a 
     typewriter for him to use in the classroom. The special 
     education teachers and I also work together on inclusion. 
     These teachers help me not only with students on IEPs, but 
     also with any students who are struggling or need some extra 
     help.
       I am constantly trying to improve my teaching through many 
     diferent methods. I choose workshops and classes based on 
     what I think my needs and my students' needs are. 
     [[Page S5863]] I share ideas with fellow teachers and 
     incorporate new ideas from them. I have worked on several 
     curriculum committees and have often written my own units to 
     meet my students' needs. I generally draw from many sources 
     to organize and present an original approach to the subject 
     matter.
       Many of my students become my friends. They come to me for 
     counseling or advice; I have been a member of Peer Natural 
     Helpers for several years. Sometimes students need help with 
     English or yearbook, and sometimes they need help with 
     problems in their personal life. I don't always have the 
     answers, but I think I'm easy to talk to, and the kids feel 
     comfortable with me. They know I truly like them! It is from 
     these relationships that I derive my greatest satisfaction. I 
     also like to see ``light bulbs'' come on in kids' eyes as 
     they begin to comprehend a grammar lesson or get involved in 
     a story we are reading or solve a yearbook layout problem. I 
     continue to work hard to establish a relationship with all my 
     students so that I can recognize their needs and help them. I 
     often get letters, phone calls, and visits from former 
     students, sometimes just to talk and sometimes to thank me. 
     They make me feel wonderful!
                      Education Issues and Trends

       A. What do you consider to be the major public education 
     issues today? Address one, outlining possible causes, effects 
     and resolutions.
       It is an exciting time to be in education when one 
     considers such issues as modernization and inclusion. 
     Brookings has been involved in modernization now for two 
     years and it is exhilarating to see the changes. 
     Collaboration and cross-curricular classes are just two 
     results of modernization that have excited and rejuvenated 
     many of our staff members. I am involved in collaborating 
     with special education teachers to include special-needs 
     students in the regular classroom. It seems that special 
     education is constantly evolving and the verdict is still out 
     as to whether inclusion is the best method, but I find it 
     very rewarding to work with a program that has such a humane 
     philosophy toward all children. The dark ages of shunning 
     special-needs children or sending them away is in the past to 
     stay. It is better for all people to live in a society that 
     accepts all people for what they are.
       It is also scary to be in education when one considers the 
     rise in violence in schools, the lack of funding, and the 
     continual pressure by different interest groups to force 
     their political agendas on schools.
       But the issue that affects education today in the most 
     profound way is the growth in the number of single-parent 
     families. According to the Census Bureau, one-third of all 
     families now are run by one parent. Right now 40 percent of 
     all children under the age of 18 live in homes where their 
     fathers do not live, according to David Blankenhorn of the 
     Institute for American Values.
       This change in the American family affects the classroom 
     because it means less parental supervision over homework, 
     fewer classroom volunteers, more latchkey kids, and more 
     discipline problems. This makes our job more difficult, and 
     it also changes our job because more and more the schools 
     have to assume roles that traditionally belonged to the 
     parents. The difficulties many schools are having now with 
     discipline and violence are not because the school is failing 
     but rather because the family structure is failing.
       The soaring rise in single-parent families started in the 
     1970s when the divorce rate began to climb. The rise 
     continued in the 1980s and 1990s with out-of-wedlock births. 
     This is evident in many larger schools that now provide 
     daycare for the children of the students. Out-of-wedlock 
     births also increases the dropout rate, further complicating 
     the education system which now must provide alternative 
     education for many of these young parents.
       Education is left to deal with the situation, but education 
     may also hold the key to improving the situation. Young 
     people need to better understand the consequences of their 
     actions. They need classes that teach them the realities of 
     life and help them prepare for the future. They need guidance 
     in learning how to make right choices. Of course, schools 
     can't and shouldn't have to do it alone, but I fear for our 
     society if this trend continues. The social consequences 
     could be devastating.


                        The Teaching Profession

       A. What can you do to strengthen and improve the teaching 
     profession?
       B. What is and/or what should be the basis for 
     accountability in the teaching profession?
       This is the question I struggled with the most. What can I 
     do to strengthen and improve the teaching profession? This 
     can be a very frustrating question because the profession is 
     so big and I'm only one person. What can one person do? But 
     upon reflection I realized that that is all anyone is--one 
     person--and each of us can do things to strengthen the 
     profession. The following are things I am doing to improve 
     the teaching profession.
       First of all, I am a positive voice in the community. Every 
     chance I get, I speak up for education. I let my friends and 
     neighbors know about the great things happening in our 
     schools. I work in the community for political candidates who 
     are advocates for strong public education. I attend school 
     board meetings. Rather than bemoaning the things that are 
     wrong with the system, I try to be positive.
       I also join my professional organizations. If we teachers 
     are unified, we can make a difference.
       I am just one person in just one classroom, but in that 
     classroom I can make a difference. I strive to be an example, 
     to be the kind of teacher I want for my own children. I am 
     professional, well-informed, well-prepared, dedicated, and 
     caring. That is what we should expect from all our teachers, 
     and it's what I expect in myself.
       I can improve the profession by constantly improving me. I 
     attend classes, workshops, seminars and conventions. It's 
     important to keep up with the latest ideas and trends. I 
     don't want to become complacent or stagnant. These learning 
     opportunities also serve as inspiration. I am constantly 
     rededicating myself to my profession and my students.
       One very tangible way I have strengthened the teaching 
     profession is through the work I have done at South Dakota 
     State University. I am part of a group of teachers working 
     through a grant to help rewrite the student training 
     curriculum. In collaboration with the Education College we 
     have developed the courses called Professional Semesters I, 
     II, and III. The student teachers coming out of SDSU are the 
     best prepared I have ever seen, and I think that SDSU can 
     serve as a role model for other teacher training colleges. I 
     am very proud to be a part of this group. In my classroom I 
     work with PS I, II, and III students and take great pride in 
     the mentoring and teaching I do. I feel very good about 
     helping student teachers prepare to become part of a 
     wonderful profession.
       Teachers are accountable to their students, their 
     administrators, their peers and themselves. Members of the 
     profession need to abide by their master contract, adhere to 
     the rules of the district and teach what is prescribed by the 
     school's curriculum. It is also important to keep up with new 
     trends and ideas. The best way to monitor a teacher's 
     performance is through the building principal and a teacher/
     mentor program. The principal needs to screen carefully when 
     hiring a teacher and then take the responsibility to document 
     the strengths and weaknesses of that teacher. It is also part 
     of his or her job to counsel and advise that teacher. He or 
     she needs to do the same for veteran teachers. Some schools 
     also assign a veteran teacher to serve as a mentor for a new 
     teacher. That mentor can assist a new teacher to develop top-
     rate teaching skills.
                      National teacher of the year

       A. As the 1995 National Teacher of the Year, you would 
     serve as a spokesperson and representative for the entire 
     teaching profession. How would you communicate to your 
     profession and to the general public the importance of 
     education to our society? As 1995 National Teacher of the 
     Year what would be your message?
       We must all recognize that ignorance is our number one 
     enemy. Enemies such as hunger, disease, unemployment, 
     violence, and prejudice cannot be eliminated if we don't 
     eliminate ignorance first.
       Parents must work as partners with the schools to improve 
     the quality of their children's lives and keep our country 
     free and strong. Parents play a critical role in teaching 
     their children such things as values, morals, religion, 
     respect, manners, etc. These areas should not be pushed off 
     on the schools, although the schools should serve as a 
     support system. Likewise, parents should be the support 
     system for the schools. Parents need to be involved 
     supervising homework, joining PTA, attending conferences, 
     volunteering, etc. They should attend school board meetings 
     and voice their desire to provide excellent education for all 
     children.
       Not only is it important to educate our citizens to ensure 
     quality of life, it is also important to fight ignorance to 
     keep our democratic way of life healthy. The United States is 
     a country governed by all the people; therefore, the people 
     must be able to make informed, wise choices when they select 
     leaders. The citizens must be able to express themselves 
     intelligently and they must be able to keep an informed eye 
     on the government to prevent corruption. Dictators can rule 
     only in a land where the citizens are uninformed and 
     incapable of ruling themselves. We should never allow 
     education to be something only for the elite or ``most 
     promising.''
       This country must continue to ensure quality education for 
     all its citizens if it is to survive. It must also recognize 
     that the quality of life for those citizens can be maintained 
     or improved only through education. Our taxpayers must 
     realize that the money that goes to education is money well-
     spent. Quality education is the most valuable thing we can 
     give our country and its citizens.
                                                                    ____



                                        Brookings High School,

                                     Brookings, SD, July 16, 1994.
     To Teacher of the Year Selection Committee:
       Becky Ekeland has asked me to submit a letter in support of 
     her Teacher of the Year nomination.
       As a counselor here at Brookings High School, I have seen 
     many of our freshmen as well as 10-12 graders have 
     opportunities to be challenged and develop further their 
     skills in composition interpretation of their reading. Becky 
     is able to use a variety of techniques to successfully 
     communicate and to TEACH. She makes learning exciting and 
     challenging for all her students. Becky teaches a diverse 
     [[Page S5864]] group of students and they all respect her as 
     an educator and as a person.
       Students who take Becky Ekeland's English or yearbook 
     classes grow in many ways. I've observed students who have 
     become more confident and able through their interviewing 
     processes in yearbook or through the 9th grade I-search 
     paper; many of the students also develop a knowledge and 
     respect for discipline, creativity, and the realities of 
     deadlines. More importantly, students know that it is ok to 
     ask any question because every question in Becky's eyes is 
     important and well worth the time. This attitude opens up 
     excellent lines for communication between student and 
     teacher. These learned qualities carry over to the other 
     academic areas and help develop a much more successful 
     student. She helps those who would otherwise feel 
     uncomfortable in an English class feel ok about being there 
     and proud of their individual progress. Becky also works with 
     our gifted coordinator to bring in enrichment and challenges, 
     ensuring the extra added opportunities for those students who 
     excel in her classroom.
       Becky is also the yearbook director. Here too, she is 
     dedicated, very organized, and willing to go out of her way 
     to help her yearbook staff be the best they can be. BHS 
     Yearbook has taken top honors at many state competitions. 
     This excellent record is a direct result of Becky's 
     dedication and desire to do her best always.
       As a person, Becky is self-motivated, conscientious, 
     responsible, dependable, a professional individual, always 
     willing to give 110% while at work; another 110% worth of 
     quality time when at home with her family.
       I believe Becky is an individual who will continually look 
     for new ways to stimulate interest for her students. She is 
     one who is always open to change and willing to share and 
     become part of educational group related efforts.
       In my opinion, Becky is academically and personally 
     superior. Her interest and determination will guarantee her 
     continued success and keep her on the cutting edge of up and 
     coming programs for her kids.
       I sincerely believe Becky Ekeland is a most worthy 
     candidate for Teacher of the Year. Any school anywhere would 
     be proud to have her on staff. I highly recommend Becky 
     Ekeland for South Dakota Teacher of the Year.
           Sincerely,
                                             Linda K.S. Pumington,
     Counselor.
                                                                    ____

                                        Brookings High School,

                                  Brookings, SD., August 10, 1994.
       Dear South Dakota Teacher of the Year Committee: It is with 
     great pleasure that I am writing this letter of support for 
     Mrs. Becky Ekeland's nomination for South Dakota Teacher of 
     the Year. Stating it simply, she is an outstanding educator.
       I first became acquainted with Becky over a decade ago when 
     she moved to Brookings. I was the assistant principal at 
     Brookings Middle School at the time and Becky was employed as 
     a substitute teacher. At the time of her hiring as an English 
     teacher at Brookings High School, my only regret was that we 
     did not have an opening for her at Brookings Middle School 
     where I worked. Through her substitute teaching, she had 
     proven to us that she was a very capable teacher. One year 
     ago when I became principal at Brookings High School, I was 
     fortunate to again work with Becky. I have come to appreciate 
     even more than before, the many fine qualities that Becky 
     possesses.
       Becky is first and foremost a caring person who places a 
     high priority on helping others. As a result of this, she 
     establishes relationships with students that serve to 
     increase their motivation, confidence, and achievement. Some 
     specific examples of Becky's excellence as an educator are 
     the outstanding results she has obtained as Brookings High 
     Yearbook advisor, the quality of her preparation for 
     classroom instruction, and her ability and willingness to 
     work with special needs students.
       In Becky's 10 years as yearbook advisor, she has developed 
     an outstanding program, with our school's yearbook receiving 
     state-wide recognition on a consistent basis. Students are 
     given much responsibility and control over the work with 
     Becky serving a role of facilitator and advisor to them. In 
     this capacity, Becky demonstrates the talent of bringing 
     students to the realization of their full potential.
       Becky has always demonstrated strong classroom 
     organizational skills and a commitment to instruction that 
     causes students to be actively engaged in learning through 
     ways that are meaningful to them. She regularly updates her 
     curriculum so that the particular interests and needs of each 
     group of students are addressed.
       In recent years, as we have moved in the direction of 
     integrating special needs students into the regular education 
     classroom, Becky has been a leader, showing both a 
     willingness and an interest in working together with special 
     education staff and students. Repeatedly, she has gone beyond 
     what is expected of her to provide for the needs of students. 
     She truly believes that all students can learn in her 
     classroom.
       Becky is, without a doubt, one of South Dakota's finest 
     educators. It is without qualification that I recommend Becky 
     Ekeland for South Dakota Teacher of the Year.
           Sincerely,
                                                       Doug Beste,
     Principal.
                                                                    ____

                                                    Brookings, SD.
     To whom it may concern:
       It is with great pleasure that I begin this letter, because 
     as I think back upon the six years I have known Rebecca 
     Ekeland I realize how much she has given me, and I am 
     thrilled that she is finally being recognized. She is an 
     amazing individual, and she has touched my life in a very 
     important way. She is my hero, my mentor, my role model, and 
     my friend. I have a feeling that Mrs. Ekeland has touched 
     many other lives in the same way, and I like to think that I 
     speak for many people when I say that you will be hard 
     pressed to find anyone more worthy of the title ``Teacher of 
     the Year'' than Mrs. Ekeland.
       Mrs. Ekeland was my freshman English teacher. I have always 
     liked English, but the year I spent in her classroom was 
     different from any other class I have ever taken. Right away 
     it was obvious that she cared about her students and took a 
     personal interest in the success of each of us. She was 
     diplomatic and fair, and she respected her students. I 
     remember leaving class the first day feeling about a foot 
     taller and finally feeling like I was a ``grown-up''. What 
     was more impressive was that at all times students respected 
     Mrs. Ekeland and her authority. Rarely are there discipline 
     problems in her classroom, and never have I heard students 
     badmouthing her or complaining about her outside the 
     classroom. Everyone loves Mrs. Ekeland. It is as simple as 
     that.
       For the next three years I was on the yearbook staff, and 
     as Mrs. Ekeland was the adviser, I not only got the chance to 
     learn from her again, but I became good friends with her. I 
     think that I owe much of who I am today to the confidence 
     that Mrs. Ekeland bestowed on me those in the course of those 
     three years. She chose me to be the Editor-in-Chief for my 
     senior year, and I learned so many valuable skills. I learned 
     to be a good leader, a good writer, and a good mediator. I 
     learned to be patient and fair. Essentially, I was attempting 
     to mirror the one individual I admire more than any other 
     person: Mrs. Ekeland.
       Before I entered high school, I was without sense of 
     direction. My greatest dream was to become a stewardess or a 
     librarian. After the first week or so of my freshman year, I 
     realized with 100% certainty that I wanted to be a high 
     school teacher--just like Mrs. Ekeland. I am now entering my 
     junior year in college, and in my education courses and in 
     the classrooms in which I student teach, I constantly find 
     myself making an example of Mrs. Ekeland's classroom. 
     Whenever I find myself in a tough situation, the first thing 
     I do is ask myself, ``What would Mrs. Ekeland do if she were 
     in my position?'' We have remained close over the years, and 
     I value her friendship and her advice. She has always been 
     there for me in every capacity: teacher, counselor, mother-
     figure, best friend, mentor.
       Finally, something needs to be said about exactly why Mrs. 
     Ekeland qualifies for the honor of South Dakota Teacher of 
     the Year. Besides her kindness, her fairness, and her ability 
     to inspire, this woman is tireless. Her first priority is her 
     students, and she is constantly working to make sure that 
     their educational needs are met. She is always available to 
     spend extra time on a difficult assignment. Her lectures and 
     assignments are clear and concise and worthwhile. And most 
     important in my mind, she is forever seeking a better way to 
     do things. Just in the past few years she has revised and 
     improved her curriculum, and she is working to coordinate a 
     better curriculum throughout the English department. She is 
     willing to try new methods and use new materials. Mrs. 
     Ekeland will do whatever it takes to see that her students 
     learn. She would go to the ends of the earth if it meant that 
     even one student would catch on to grammar rules. She makes 
     every student feel important. It takes a special person to be 
     able to do that, and Mrs. Ekeland can.
       Rebecca Ekeland truly is one in a million. I have never 
     come across anyone who dedicates so much energy to one task--
     educating the children of Brookings, South Dakota. She puts 
     her heart and soul into the success of every single student 
     that enters her classroom. To me this is what teaching is all 
     about. She exemplifies the ``Ideal Educator'' and is more 
     deserving of this honor than any other person my imagination 
     could conjure up. Nevertheless, I believe that Mrs. Ekeland's 
     reward is watching students grow up to be successful, happy 
     individuals. She does not need a fancy plaque or trophy to 
     hang on her wall. In my mind and in the minds of many others, 
     she is and always will be the ``Teacher of the Year'' this 
     year and for many years to come.
                                                  Jennifer Lacher.
     

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