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http://www.omniture.com --> Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Advertisement Email Story to a Friend June 11, 2006 Grads honor teachers By Sanne SPecht Mail Tribune ROGUE RIVER — Special teachers — those who deliver valuable life lessons remembered long after the Pythagorean Theorem is forgotten — deserve special recognition, students say. This year's graduating class at Rogue River High School is creating what it hopes will become a new school tradition — thanking those special teachers by declaring them "Honorary Class Mentors." "We're trying to start a teacher appreciation tradition," said senior and co-valedictorian Timmy Perston, 17. Perston, along with fellow valedictorian Tom Mitchell and senior Jaqualyn Moore, challenged their classmates to think back over the 12 years of their education and vote for those teachers who had made the biggest difference in their lives. "We told them to pick out as many teachers as you want," he said. "We didn't have a set amount." Perston tallied the five winners — one from one of the town's two elementary schools and two each from the middle and high school — who were to be honored at the graduation ceremony Saturday, he said. English teachers Ken Rensi and Kelly Gibson took top honors at the high school. Gibson challenged the advanced-placement trio of Moore, Mitchell and Perston "to be smarter than we thought we were," said Perston. Then she helped them believe in themselves, the students added. "She taught us freaking everything," said Moore. "She accepts everybody, and accepts everybody's personality." Gibson, a teacher for eight years, moved to Rogue River from Colorado two years ago. She has three daughters who attend classes in the small school district, she said. "I love to hear kids recognize that adults in the world are not just the oppressors," she said. "It's nice to see them realize, 'Wow! These people really care about me.' " Lessons learned in Gibson's class were as much about critical thinking and character as they were about commas and codas. "I can imagine three years down the line thinking, 'What would Ms. Gibson think about this,' " said Mitchell. Retired teacher Tim Darland was the winner from the district's elementary schools. Science teacher Brad Holst was the middle school award winner and a posthumous award honored former Principal Steve Reed. The popular principal died of cancer in April of 2004. Reed, 49, was survived by his wife, Susan, and 12 children. The seniors hope the lasting message is to motivate students to honor excellence in teaching — all types of teaching, said Perston. Gibson said the messages are appreciated. But students should know learning is a two-way street, she said. "I am constantly amazed at how much these kids give while they're learning," she said. "The individuality of the senior class is absolutely remarkable. These are kids who have embraced the beauty of simply being themselves." Advertisement s Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker Custom Build Computers Discount Hotel Reservations --> online casinos news Ashley Furniture HomeStore Send Flowers California Casinos GMAT Prep Windermere Van Vleet Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Entertainment Guide --> Online Casino Fundraisers Sudoku Online Casinos Canada Online Pharmacy