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

DATE: MONDAY, January 23, 1995                   TAG: 9501240074
SECTION: NEWSFUN                    PAGE: NF-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

TEACHER OF THE WEEK

"I think I have the reputation for being hard but fair. I expect consistency in homework so they can keep up with their skills. It's not optional," she said. "I expect them to work."

Kilbane says she often hears from former pupils, who tell her fourth grade was hard, but that they learned a lot. "I expect a lot out of [her pupils], but in the long run, I think they appreciate it," she said.

And although Kilbane sets high standards for her pupils, she says she wants them to enjoy learning while striving to do their best. Kilbane says she especially tries to make math interesting.

"In math, Mrs. Kilbane makes it fun to learn. She lets the whole class do it out loud with her," said her nominators.

"Math should be fun. It's real and it makes sense," Kilbane said. "I don't want any numbers phobias."

An Ohio native and Roanoke College graduate, Kilbane is married and the mother of two girls. A self-proclaimed "newspaper junkie," she also likes needlework and traveling.