Mason Heights teacher goes the extra mile
Principal: Any child in Janell Bishop's class will come out a better student.
Thursday, May 01, 2008
Second-grade teacher Janell Bishop enjoys helping students overcome obstacles to reach goals.
This year, a student was added to Bishop's roster who could not read and didn't know some of the letters of the alphabet, she said.
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The boy would've been a challenge to any teacher, said Mason Heights Principal Eric Messer. But when he informed her the child was coming to the school, Bishop said, "Great. Put him in my class."
Since starting school, the child has learned to read and surpassed reading goals Bishop set for him. About two weeks ago he had a long-awaited lunch with Messer for meeting his goals.
Messer said, "To me, you could put any kid in her classroom, in any situation, and they're going to come out a better student."
Bishop will be recognized as an excellent educator on May 5 in the Project Excellence program, through the Warren County Area Progress Council.
She was amazed to hear her students, colleagues and parents thought she was worthy of such an award.
"Being in the Mason district, everybody is an awesome teacher," she said, adding that any Mason teacher could've easily won recognition.
Watching kids love learning is "Why I'm up until midnight grading papers," Bishop said.
Her own daughter said she wouldn't go into teaching because "you work too hard."
Messer agrees.
"And the great thing about Janell is she doesn't feel that she deserves this award," he said.
Contact this reporter at (513) 696-4541 or dwilson@coxohio.com.
