Welcome to DENIMS Professionals Northeast Region's Top Notch Teacher webpage. Here we recognize the most outstanding Top Notch Teacher from one of the northeastern states...Connecticut, Delaware, Washington, DC, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersy, New York, Ohio,Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin.

Have you always wanted to let a favorite teacher know that he or she is in fact your very favorite teacher for reasons you may not have realized at the time but you certainly know now that that teacher, in more ways than one, has made a very positive difference in your life?

Please take the opportunity to show your appreciation and honor for all teachers and the teaching profession. Teachers do make the difference throughout our universe. Is there one who has made a difference with you in your geographical region, in your state, in your school district, in your school, in your classroom--because should the truth be told for all the world to know, the difference this teacher made, no matter when or what his or her current location may be is the unforgettable difference this teacher made with you?

Teachers make the difference in many ways, large or small, "one child at a time." Was there ever a time when you felt and still feel that you were that "one child?" Who was that one top notch teacher? What was the "something extraordinary" done by this teacher that has left an everlasting powerful and positive impression on you. Was that "something extraordinary" tangible or intangible, extrinsic or intrinsic, verbal or written? Was it one "something extraordinary" or was it two, three, or four and many, many more?

TOP NOTCH TEACHER NOMINATION PROCESS
All teachers nominated for this honor will have their names listed on the webpage reserved for ALL Top Notch Teacher Nominees. All TNT nominees will remain eligible for the region title for the next quarter. Simply resubmit and/or update nominee's current information. All previous nomination information will be saved from your last submission for your convenience. Judges from the other three regions (northwest, southwest and southeast) will be identified to screen and select the Northeast Top Notch Teacher of the Quarter. For more information, contact us at topnotchteachers@denimsprofessionals.com.

I thank everyone for taking the time to contribute to DENIMS Professionals nationwide approach to bring recognition to ALL TEACHERS!

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DENIMS Picks: Yahoo Answers on "Teaching"

QUESTION submitted by Yahoo member,"Yankee:" Why do so many people think that teachers, like me, do so little all day?
I am a hard working school teacher. Between teaching, planning, attending training, and participating in students events I work about 70 hours a week. People are always telling me that I don't do anything all day and that I have summers off, so my job is really easy. I've actually never had any summers off because I've had to work in order to make ends meet. I'm tired of being treated like I have a cake walk of a job. What's up with that?

ANSWER submitted by Yahoo member, "Froggie:" I'm a teacher also, and my guess is that the impression people have of teachers formed from two sources: experiences of being a student, and images portrayed on television and in movies.
As a student, it does appear that teachers just "hand things out" and walk around -- students don't and shouldn't know what teachers really do to prepare for the day.

As a person watching TV/movies portraying teachers, it's the same image, only worse because of its inaccuracy.

Teaching is the kind of job that you just don't understand until you've actually done it. Subbing doesn't count, either. Teaching LOOKS easy, but we teachers know different. It's not, it's an overwhelming, underpaid, and underappreciated profession.

I am studying to be a school librarian -- unfortunately, one of the only ways to get out of teaching with the degree I have is to get my master's degree. I could be a secretary, and make a little less money -- no thanks.

So, teachers who want to teach -- must be thick-skinned and have a conviction that they are doing an important job and a service to society, which is 100% true. Plus, you generally work with good people (I mean other teachers, not the students).

You ARE an important person to many kids out there. You will have those who roll their eyes at you, but they are watching and learning from you and forming their view of the world based in part on what they see in you. Believe me, you will, in the future, hear from students whom you've had an impact on -- and that will make all those comments from others seem very trivial. By the way, don't you love it when, after telling someone you're a teacher, they say (with a pronounced shiver) "Oooohhh, I could NEVER do THAT job!" Me, I just smile and nod!!!

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