I am thrilled to have the opportunity to write this letter of support for Ms. Patricia Hansbury. Around the third week of my ninth grade World History class I realized that Ms. Hansbury was a gem. By the fifth week I realized that she deserved special recognition for her outstanding lessons and activities. Since then, I have spent more time out of class (during lunch, homeroom, extra-curricular activities) with her than in class, and my admiration of Ms. Hansbury has grown enormously. She has countless wonderful qualities. I will elaborate on a few so that I can give the committee a small sketch of the giant that Ms. Hansbury is in the classroom, Central High School, and my life.

At her core, Ms. Hansbury loves teaching. She jokes that "she could never retire" because she would simply miss the thrillof passing knowledge on to eager minds too much. Her passion is astonishing and shows in her engaging classroom activities. She teaches two classes:World History Gifted and Contemporary Issues Gifted (affectionately known as "Conflicts"). I had the great pleasure of taking World History in ninth grade and Conflicts this year. Each class has provided me with a different view of the world because of what Ms. Hansbury has asked me to be: not a memorizer of dates and facts, but a participant and critic of history and current events.

One of the biggest lessons of World History is done at the beginning of the unit on the Renaissance. She writes five capitals on the board (Jefferson City, Missouri; Jackson, Mississippi; Madison, Wisconsin; Lincoln, Nebraska; and Washington, DC) and tells us that all American capitals are named after presidents. We naïve freshman believe her, until someone starts getting suspicious and asks "What about Little Rock, Arkansas?" She replies "That was Theodore Roosevelt's nickname because he once said "walk softly and carry a little rock." We believe her because she is our teacher and she would never lie to us. That is exactly her point. Until the Renaissance, students believed every idea and theory taught by their teachers. The intellectual revolution of the Renaissance enabled students to question rather than accept. I participated in this activity in the spring of 2005 and I still remember its message as if it were yesterday.

With that creative lesson, Ms. Hansbury was telling us to question history, question ourselves, and question her. She has never failed to supply an inquisitive student with an answer. Her knowledge is vast, ranging from Buddhism to Charlemagne, from Hippocrates to the Cold War. In Conflicts I have heard her condense the early history of the Arab-Israeli conflict into seven minutes while keeping it interesting and without skimming over the important details. No question is too stupid or too irrelevant, no era too boring to discuss. History is her subject and she teaches it with an enthusiastic flair.

In tenth and eleventh grades I did not have Ms. Hansbury as a teacher. Instead, I spent my lunch periods with her in the Mentally Gifted office. This is where I first discovered the personal side of Ms. Hansbury, which is just as engaging as her classroom persona. She always has time to talk, debate, and laugh with students. On many occasions I have seen her approach a troubled student with a kind smile and listening ear. She gives counsel to all who need it, regardless of his or her grade in class or attitude towards history. Every student is given the same high level of respect that she gives to her teaching colleagues. Ms. Hansbury makes the MG office a haven of tolerance, respect, and intellectual debate. Students flock to her desk to hear her opinion on the latest movie or the recent political change in Somalia. She gives her opinions freely and encourages students to develop their own.

It is rare to find a teacher that inspires students like Ms. Hansbury does. I never thought I would be excited about the beauty of Raphael's The School of Athens or the French Revolution. I never thought I would have classmates who didn't know where Pakistan was at the beginning of December and were arguing over the country like experts in mid-January. I never thought I would be reluctant to leave a class at the end of the period. All these things have happened, and they are because of Patricia Hansbury. I am blessed to have her as a role model and a teacher.

At the beginning of the school year my fourth grade teacher, Mr. Tom Kuestner, explained why he became a teacher eight years ago. As a kid, he never found school to be something to look forward to. Mr. Kuestner wanted to make school a place kids wanted to be. Today he does an awesome job at doing so. With fun projects like creating a song or commercial about electricity, silly stories that help kids learn like the one about his "ex-girlfriend" Laverne from the 1400s which he uses to teach multiplication factors and a talent to make even the most BORING subjects fascinating, Mr. Kuester is surely the best teacher ever! No matter what day it is, Mr. Kuester always comes into class with a very positive attitude and a smiling face. He never raises his voice. Instead unlike most teachers, he calmly discusses with the person what they did and how they think they can improve it. This makes me feel relaxed to express my opinions and just be myself. Mr. Kuestner is also a "hip and with it" (that's a phrase he like to say) kind of guy that allows students to shave his head into a Mohawk to raise money with heart conditions.

But most importantly, whether I or any of the other kids is experiencing something happy, sad, frustrating or intimidating Mr. Kuestner instinctively, without someone telling him, knows how the child feels and springs into action to do whatever he can do to help them. for example, I had a writing award ceremony and I didn't ask him to come because I felt uncomfortable asking him to drive so far to attend, though I really wanted him there. He figured all this out, found out on his own when the event was and traveled over an hour on a school night to attend. I wouldn't have even entered the contest, except that Mr. Kuestner always makes me feel so inspired to follow my dreams to be a writer. I can't think of a better way to thank him for all that he's given me and others than to have him win this award.

My name is Nicholas Speero and I am a seventh grade student at Ann A. Mullen Middle School in Sicklerville, NJ. On February 5, 2008 I was tossing a football outside with some friends. I slipped in the street and hit my head. I was unconscious and my brain bled. I spent seven days at Cooper University Hospital. I am getting better every day but have been unable to return to school.

I would like to nominate Mr. Scott Marakovits, my seventh grade science teacher, for the 2008 Teacher All-Star Award. He is a great teacher and my hero. Since my accident I was unable to return to school and he volunteered to come to my house every day after school to tutor me so I don't fall behind in my work. I really want to move up to eighth grade next year and he is making that possible for me.

Mr. M is in Graduate school, he is married and loves baseball. I would like to recognize him for his patience and calmness. He never gets upset with me even when I am having trouble focusing. That happens often and he redirects me back to my work. I have always had a problem concentrating but its worse since my accident. Mr. M makes school work fun!

I really hope you consider awarding Mr. M. as a Teacher All-Star because he really is a super teacher and cares about all his students. He has gone above and beyond for me and I am a better student for it. He visited me in the hospital and encouraged me to keep getting better. He has helped make a terrible situation better for me and I am better student for it. He visited me in the hospital and encouraged me to keep getting better. He has helped make a terrible situation better for me and I thank him for it. I hope you will too.

Mrs. McChesney has touched my life in so many ways that 250 words will not do her justice. She embodies all that she strives to develop in her students. I called upon my classmates to share their experiences, all of which have helped me to write this essay.

She truly cares, and takes the extra step to develop a personal relationship with each student. Out sick for a while, she will call your home. Stressed about a test, she will calm you down by quizzing you on your French verbs. If a teacher can develop such deep relationships while teaching AP Statistics, she is truly gifted!

My favorite classes are the ones that are interrupted by one of her "life talks." Diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease over three years ago, she uses her journey to instill life lessons and explain to us what is truly important in life. In each obstacle, she finds a blessing. I've never met anyone like her. This week she spoke at Lafayette University. "I have found that there is nothing more important than the relationships you have in this lifetime. If you have a good family and good friends then the rest is irrelevant, quite honestly." My admiration extends beyond class. She comes to cheer at games, offers weekend study sessions, and leads Lenten rosaries. She is an inspiring, wonderful woman, teacher, mother, wife, friend, and role model. "The only thing I've wanted in my life is peace and truly I have found it," she says.

Winning this award would thrill each girl Mrs McChesney has touched - but regardless of the outcome, she will always be a true allstar and hero in our hearts. Thank you for your consideration.

I think that Shawn McElhaugh is an All Star teacher because he made everyday of learning fun and interesting. For example, instead of calling each student by his or her actual name, he would say your name backwards. My nickname was Acsecnarf. He also had certain songs he would sing to us. Mine was Stardust by the Carpenters. These songs were sung at any given point during the school day. it made you wake up and pay attention.

My 2nd reason is that he encouraged me to want to learn more. By this I mean he made school so much fun that I was excited to learn all I could from him. Everyday in his class he made special, and made his students feel special. When it was your birthday he would put a wig on you that would cover your eyes sing Happy Birthday and then blow the elephant horn in your ears. Everybody thought it was really funny.

My 3rd reason is that he made me want to get up everyday and go to school. He thought that learning should not be boring and with him as my teacher it never was. I was excited to get to school just to see what fun stuff we would do. Don't get me wrong we learned a lot everyday. Mr. Mac. Just had a way of making it seem like fun, when it really was work.

I still see Mr. Mac everyday and he still calls people by their nicknames and sings them songs. He was the best teacher I ever had. That is why Shawn McElhaugh is my All Star teacher!

I am writing this letter on behalf of my son, Dean Costanzo. He is an autistic child in the third grade special education program at Holly Glen Elementary School. I would like to nominate his teacher Penny Mossbrucker for Teacher All-Star. Mrs. Mossbrucker has been an inspiration to many student teachers from Rowan University which later become special education teachers. My son, Dean, was in a program that was not working for him.

Being an employee at Holly Glen myself, I knew of Mrs. Mossbrucker's reputation with special education students. I took my son out of the program he was in last February and enrolled him into Mrs. Mossbrucker's program. Dean started out with a teacher who had Mrs. Mossbrucker as a mentor while she was in college. Dean went into her class not knowing how to read, work out math problems, spell and everything else a student at his age should be learning. Three days after starting Mrs. Mossbrucker's program, Dean began to read two to three words. By June of 2007, Dean wasreading sentences and working on math problems. In September, 2007 he was put into Mrs. Mossbrucker's room to work with her directly. He is now reading paragraphs, he takes a spelling test every Friday and has gotten a perfect score for the past ten weeks. As a parent, I now have hope that my son can live a somewhat normal life and be able to function without the constant supervision of another person. Mrs. Mossbrucker has 9 students in her class and I am sure that every one of them can attest to her excellence in teaching special education students.

Henry Pearlberg is a true teacher "hero." In 1983, he along with his coworker Jack Hontz, embarked on a crusade to rebuild a music program in the Wallingford-Swathmore School District. They began by concentrating on building a marching band. There was no band at all in the district, and Henry and Jack were hired to rebuild the music program from "ground zero." Henry joined Jack in going from door to door throughout the summer of 1983 to "recruit" musicians for the marching band. They were successful in convincing 35 students to enroll in the first Strath Haven High School Band. Today that band numbers over 400 students with 290 musicians, and 100+ band front members.

Jack Hontz, the Strath Haven High School Band Director, has been blessed with many accolades for his development of the band. Henry has been every bit as instrumental (no pun intended) in the success of the program but has labored in Jack's shadow for the past 25 years. If ever anyone deserved recognition, it is Henry! He has started over 1,400 students in the study of band instruments. At the Strath Haven Middle School, he has three concert bands, two jazz bands and multiple ensembles. Henry has worked to find a place in the music program for all students from every experience and every walk of life. Over 60% of students in the district participate in music programs. Henry is an exemplary role model, friend, counselor, mentor, and all around teacher All-Star.

My name is Madison McGovern. I am in second grade at Pocopson Elementary School in West Chester, PA. I am nominating my teacher Mrs. Schinski because she makes me feel safe and loved in school every day.

When I started second grade I just moved back to America from Germany. I was scared and nervous because everything was so new for me. Mrs. Schinski made me feel very special and assigned me a partner to help me learn everything about my new school.

Mrs. Schinski is an awesome teacher. She does not yell at us when we forget things. She gives us hints so we can figure out answers. She tells our class how well we listen and how well we are doing. She gives us rewards when we do well. In November, Mrs Schinski's dad went to heaven. She still came to school the next day to be sure we had all of our work even though she was sad. She only missed a couple of days of school because her class is so important to her.

On December 30 she got married, but she is not taking her honeymoon until summer vacation. She told us she doesn't want us to have a substitute teacher. This makes our whole class feel special and thankful.

Mrs. Schinski is so nice, great, awesome and funny. She makes me and my class feel safe and loved every day and is a 2008 Teacher All-Star.

My name is Curtis Hartfield and I am nominating my English Teacher Mr. Robert Thomas. He is a good role model because he doesn't just teach the basics. Mr.T (as we call him) strives to teach us about life and how you can look to the future by learning from the past. Since the beginning of the year he has been not just a teacher, but a father to many of us. He has experienced the world of teenagers through his sons, so he knows how to heal wounds, reach compromises and admit mistakes. He tells us his room is our home away from home and brings in things like magazines, books and fun items too.

His birthday club brings happiness and makes us feel special on our own day. When I'm having a bad day, he can make it better with a joke, smile or silly comment. Mr.Thomas helps me to learn about reading and English terms. I am not the best or brightest, but he makes me feel like Shakespeare or Dickens.

Mr.Thomas sees success in everyone. He tells us "Dare to Dream" and I do dream that my teacher will be recognized for his energy and creativity. Mr.T. allows every child to feel safe and loved by spending quality time with everyone. I think Mr. T. not only deserves Teacher of the Year, but in my eyes he is the Teacher of my Life.