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

DATE: MONDAY, May 8, 1995                   TAG: 9505090057
SECTION: NEWSFUN                    PAGE: NF-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

TEACHER OF THE WEEK

When Michelle Bird returned as a teacher to the middle school she attended as a child, "it was kind of odd," she said.

"I still felt like a student at first. Some of the teachers I had were still there, and so was the principal and assistant principal."

But it didn't take long for Bird to adjust to her role. "Now they see me as a peer, and I see them in a different light. I feel lucky that I ended up coming back. It's been a really good experience," she said.

Bird, who has taught for five years at Dublin, said she enjoys teaching sixth-graders because of the physical and emotional changes they're going through. She says she believes it's especially important at their age to establish a personal relationship with each.

"Instead of talking at them, I try to let them know I care about what's going on in their lives. I want to have a personal, not just a professional, relationship with them," she said.

"When everyone is down, you can bet Mrs. Bird will come to the rescue," said the pupil who nominated her. "She's a loving teacher."

Bird, who recently completed a master's degree at Radford University, enjoys outdoor activities with her husband and spending time with her cats and dog.

by CNB