Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, December 6, 1993                   TAG: 9312070024
SECTION: NEWSFUN                    PAGE: NF3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

TEACHER OF THE WEEK

Some people see adolescents and think of mood swings and hormones gone haywire. Tammy Shomo sees them and sees a challenge. "They're going through so many changes at this age; I love watching their growth," she said. "I can be a positive force in helping them make decisions in their lives."

Shomo said because she "truly enjoys working" with her seventh-graders, she can influence their actions in and out of her Lexington classroom. "She's always willing and doing for students because she is so loving," said the pupil who nominated her.

Developing her pupils' language skills is at the top of Shomo's priorities for her class. "That's so important. They need to be able to communicate now with their peers and later when they apply to colleges or for a job," she said.

Shomo, who earned a master's in reading from James Madison University, has taught for seven years. She plays trumpet in the Washington and Lee Wind Ensemble and enjoys reading, swimming and biking.

\ If you have a nomination for Teacher of the Week, send the name of the nominee, his or her school and why you think that teacher should be honored. Include your name, telephone number and school and send to NewsFun, P.O. Box 2491, Roanoke 24010-2491. The Science Museum of Western Virginia will award each Teacher of the Week a gift certificate for $50 to be spent at the museum's Teacher Resource Center.