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

DATE: MONDAY, April 3, 1995                   TAG: 9504050012
SECTION: NEWSFUN                    PAGE: NF-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

TEACHER OF THE WEEK

When Vicki Freeman's pupils at Northside Middle School in Roanoke County challenge her on an issue, Freeman doesn't get upset. In fact, she welcomes it.

"It's a healthy sign for seventh-graders to challenge you." she said. "At this age, they want to become independent, but they don't always know how."

Freeman, who teaches math, sees providing guidance to her pupils as a big part of her job. "Because so many families aren't together, kids don't have all the help they need. There are not a lot of people for them to turn to," she said.

Freeman's goals in her classroom are to make sure her pupils feel welcome and comfortable and to treat them with respect.

"If they're comfortable, they can dare to say 'I don't understand,'" she said.

A 30-year teaching veteran, Freeman taught health and physical education for five years before returning to school to finish her math degree.

"Besides her outstanding ability to teach math, she treats everything with respect," said the pupil who nominated her. "Just the little compliments can make a person feel ready to face the world and all of the problems that lie ahead."

Freeman is married, the mother of three grown children and the grandmother of Lucas Campbell. The Salem resident enjoys playing competitive tennis.

by CNB