ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Monday, June 3, 1996                   TAG: 9606040005
SECTION: NEWSFUN                  PAGE: NF-3 EDITION: METRO 

TEACHER OF THE WEEK

DeWitt, who also holds degrees from East Tennessee State and Radford University, has taught for 22 years, always elementary pupils. He has been a teacher at two other Roanoke elementary schools: Wasena and Oakland.

"Fourth-graders are refreshing and open," DeWitt said. "They don't mind telling you what's on their minds." DeWitt said he especially enjoys teaching fourth-grade because Virginia history is highlighted. "It reads like a storybook," he said. "Our state has such a rich history, it's more interesting than fiction."

"My teacher is very nice and he takes good care of us. He thinks learning is important." said the pupil who nominated him.

DeWitt is married to Dana DeWitt, a kindergarten teacher at Penn Forest Elementary in Roanoke County. The couple has three children: Emily, 16; Andy, 15; and Jordan, 11. DeWitt enjoys gardening, walking and reading.

LENGTH: Short :   33 lines
ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO:  Rod DeWitt\Fourth grade,Garden City Elementary
             Rod DeWitt didn't always want to be a teacher. Becoming a 
          veterinarian, among other things, was on his list of career choices.
          
             But while studying at Virginia Western Community College, DeWitt 
          "sort of gravitated" that way. "I come from a long line of 
          teachers," he said. "My mother taught, and so did several aunts on 
          both sides. "It seemed like that was the way to go."