ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, June 6, 1996 TAG: 9606060073
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
ROANOKE COUNTY'S Teacher of the Year, Sue Hodge, "has the touch" - and her pupils would be the first to say so.
Sue Hodge's biggest fans are her own fourth-graders. Some even wish they could return to her class at Oak Grove Elementary School next year.
"She never raises her voice - even when you don't do your homework and she's angry," said Josh McNamara. "She makes sure you understand your lesson."
Julianne Blake never gets bored in class. "We're always doing projects. It's fun. I even like social studies," she said. "I'm going to miss her when I go into fifth grade."
"She makes [learning] interesting. We see a lot of videos on history, too," Cathy Boatwright said. "She's never harsh to anyone."
Hodge has been named Roanoke County's Teacher of the Year in the competition for the Virginia Teacher of the Year that is sponsored by the state Department of Education. The state winner will be named later this year.
Hodge's close work with Colonial Williamsburg during the past two years shows in her teaching methods. She developed a Virginia history program that culminates with a series of "Publick Times" activities in which the children get a feel for colonial life.
With history as the focus of an integrated curriculum that includes math, English, the arts, and other subjects, pupils learn about science through a study of colonial herbs; language arts through historical fiction; and the arts by performing colonial music and dance.
"The children have become colonists throughout the year," Hodge said. "They retain the material by doing instead of relying [solely] on reading."
Hodge, 51, has taught at Oak Grove for nearly six years and two years in Roanoke. She became a teacher after she'd raised five children with her husband, Roanoke County Administrator Elmer Hodge.
When she graduated from the College of William and Mary in 1966, she had planned to join VISTA, the domestic Peace Corps, and work with handicapped children. But in the meantime she met her future husband, who was also a student at the school, and they decided to get married.
She put her career on hold until the children were old enough to care for themselves. Her youngest daughter will go to college next year.
Hodge said she takes a positive approach to discipline and looks for the good in what children are doing. It works, because those who misbehave want praise, she said.
The most important element in learning is a "positive environment physically and emotionally" where the children are encouraged and stimulated.
In nominating letters, she is described as an innovative and professional educator who is always looking for better ways to teach.
"Humor is definitely one of her strong traits. Her jokes, stories and fun ways help keep her students relaxed, but alert and actively participating," said Diane Thompson, another fourth-grade teacher. "She probably has close to 500 paperback books of her own and she can always tell you just where to find the right one for a particular situation."
Kathryn Coats, a student teacher, said Hodge often spends nine hours a day at school and inspires her pupils.
"Sue Hodge has a hunger for knowledge, which is contagious. Her students reflect her appetite for wanting to learn," said Coats, who worked with Hodge for 12 weeks this school year.
"She has the touch, she makes the connections, she's a natural," said Katie Highfill, mother of a child in Hodge's class and a former elementary art teacher. "For Sue Hodge, an award for dedication is not necessary, but it most certainly would be nice."
Hodge, who said she stays out of politics and issues involving her husband's job as county administrator, nonetheless was disappointed by the recent defeat of the county school bond issue. She knows the conditions at Cave Spring Junior and Cave Spring High because her children attended the schools.
"I hope some means will be found for the county citizens to come together [on the school funding issue]," she said. "It will take some time, but South County has needs."
Hodge teaches in a trailer at Oak Grove because the school is filled to capacity. But she has no complaints about the trailer - she even likes it.
It's one of the best kept secrets at the school, she said, "because we do a lot of hands-on activities and we can make noise without disturbing other classes."
It's also good for team teaching because it contains two classrooms that are connected by a door, she said.
Hodge is a volunteer in several community services agencies and was Mother of the Year in Education in the Roanoke Valley in 1991.
Several other Roanoke County teachers have also been recognized recently by business and community organizations. They include:
Adrian Hopper, a fifth-grade teacher at Clearbrook Elementary School. She was named Teacher of the Year by the Scottish Rite Masons.
Deborah Beirne, a fifth-grade teacher at the W.E. Cundiff Elementary School. She was named the county's outstanding first-year teacher by the American Association of School Administrators.
Willie Waker, principal of the Roanoke County Career Center, was chosen as Educator of the Year by the Salem-Roanoke County Chamber of Commerce.
LENGTH: Long : 102 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: ROGER HART/Staff. Sue Hodge praises fourth-graderby CNBLindsey Layton on a drawing project about boats used in Chesapeake
Bay fishing through history. color.