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

DATE: MONDAY, January 3, 1994                   TAG: 9401040078
SECTION: NEWSFUN                    PAGE: NF-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

TEACHER OF THE WEEK

After 29 years of teaching fourth grade, you could say Nancy Schifanelli is an expert on children of that grade. Things have changed in her three decades as an educator, but Schifanelli says fourth-graders of 30 years ago and the fourth-graders in her Roanoke County classroom today "are basically the same."

Although the pupils she now teaches are more technology-literate then ever, "You can almost predict what they'll say and do," she said. "Most anything you teach is news to them."

Schifanelli will retire at the end of this school year. "I'll miss the children and seeing them progress," she said. "We are going to miss her," said the pupil who nominated Schifanelli. "Every kid wishes Mrs. Schifanelli was their teacher."

Resting is at the top of Schifanelli's list of retirement activities. She plans to spend time with her family, which includes a husband, two children and three grandchildren. She also enjoys refinishing furniture and gardening.

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.

by CNB