CONTACT: Gina Hoagland
Phone: 301.570.2111
May 1, 2001

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Olney, MD-- "Fun" and "Fulfilling" are two ways Montgomery County parents and students are describing their plans for next week's international "Week of the Classroom Teacher."

Since Governor Glendening proclaimed May 6-12, 2001, the "Week of the Classroom Teacher" in Maryland, there has been no shortage of participants nor ideas. At Rockville's Lucy V. Barnsley Elementary School, parents like Pam Milberg are planning a whole week of activities, including a Dessert Day, a multicultural lunch and an Anti-Stress Day. Teachers will receive small gifts from students and prizes from a raffle of goods and services donated by parents. "It's so rewarding because the teachers love what we do," Milberg said. "It's a lot of coordination, but so much fun."

At Cashell Elementary School, budding artists in teacher Andrea Siska's first-grade class took up their crayons and created festive drawings that will be displayed in the Children's Section of the Olney Library and on the community bulletin board at the nearby Giant Food grocery store on Georgia Avenue. One of Siska's neighbors, a local high school student, helped out by laminating all 21 pictures for safekeeping.

"Teachers appreciate the recognition and professional respect," said Gerald Odland, Executive Director of the Association for Childhood Education International (ACEI), annual sponsor of the "Week of the Classroom Teacher."

"We hope that next year, even more parents will be involved and will take part in simple, age-appropriate activities, like creating homemade cards, writing a special story, or bringing a flower to their favorite teacher."