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

DATE: MONDAY, February 21, 1994                   TAG: 9402210321
SECTION: NEWSFUN                    PAGE: 3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

TEACHER OF THE WEEK

Fifth grade

Glenvar Elementary Schoolo

When Debra Roche was in third grade, she moved to a new school. ``I moved from Florida and was a little bit behind. My teacher gave me the individual attention I needed to catch up.'' It was then, Roche says, that she knew she wanted to become a teacher.

Teaching is everything she thought it would be, said Roche, in her second year as an educator. ``I love being there for those who need help, those who don't and those who could fall between the cracks.'' ``Everyone likes her because she is so nice,'' said the pupil who nominated Roche.

Roche says she encourages her pupils to ask questions and tries to help them feel comfortable in the classroom. She finds experiments and hands-on activities among her most effective teaching tools.

Roche, who says she loves cross-stitch and all sports, is busy outside the classroom planning her wedding, scheduled in July.

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.