THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, May 11, 1995 TAG: 9505110419
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY VANEE VINES, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH LENGTH: Medium: 79 lines
Fifteen-year-old Denny Whitley, like a couple of his classmates, really wasn't having a good day.
First, Miss Daniels ordered him and a girl to ``address their hair'' in the bathroom because it was on the wild side. Also, he almost got the boot for forgetting to bring a pen or pencil to class.
But for Churchland Middle School math teacher Annette V. Daniels, Denny says, he always makes the effort to get himself together.
``She's cool; she cares about you and stuff,'' the eighth-grader said after class Wednesday. ``She's strict, too. You have no choice but to learn. This is, like, the only class I'm passing.''
Daniels motivates the children in her charge with a combination of hip-hop attitude, nurturing and much hounding - about everything from sloppy work to poorhandwriting to saying ``uh-huh'' instead of ``yes.''
``I fuss because I care,'' she explained.
``In order for them to be able to make it in the world, I don't think I'm quite tough enough. I wish I had some more toughness. It's hard out there.''
She admits that she often gets ``on their nerves.'' But, she said, making students sweat it out will pay off later.
School districts across the country are honoring teachers like Daniels as part of Teacher Appreciation Week. She is among the stellar - those whose skill, dedication and energy exceed what's expected.
``She can demand things other teachers cannot demand'' and get good results, Principal LaDaniel Gatling said.
Daniels said her success in getting kids to try harder has a lot to do with the way she views students.
``I care about the whole child. I'm not interested in just math,'' she said. ``I deal with them on the traditional academic level, the personal level, the social level. I never know who's sitting across the desk from me. He or she may have the potential to be president of the United States, or he or she may be the person that has to take care of me when I reach retirement.
``Either way, they're my investment in the future and they must have a good foundation.''
The staff chose Daniels, an 18-year veteran, as the school's Teacher of the Year. She's a team leader and the administrator in charge after school.
Her students come from poor neighborhoods and affluent ones. Some are math aces. Some have trouble reading instructions on handouts. Even so, she doesn't let anyone slide.
``There's no such thing as not doing her work. You're going to do her work. That's the end of it,'' said Charlia Cross, a 13-year-old eighth-grader in Daniels' advanced-math class.
``But if you don't do it, you're going to get fussed at, embarrassed. It's easier just to do what you're supposed to. One boy didn't do his work the other day and she just fried him to the bone.''
She's the same way when it comes to keeping order outside her class. In a raspy, sing-song voice, she commands students in the halls to fix their attire, hurry to class and stay on top of schoolwork. She's just as quick to offer an ``I love you'' or a hug.
``She's wonderful; she really cares about the kids,'' said Saundra Tolliver, whose son, Brandon, has Daniels for math. ``She helped me figure out how I could help him in school. She even called me at work to say he was doing better.''
Above everything else, Daniels said, she wants students to know she's on their side.
``With society going through so many changes today, I wouldn't trade places with my children because I don't know how I, as a middle school student, would cope. I try not to be judgmental, but more helpful and understanding,'' she said.
``If there's one ingredient today that many children do not have, it is love. If you give these kids love, they will do anything for you.'' ILLUSTRATION: Color Staff photo by Jim Walker
Students Meredith Kalmback, left, and Elizabeth Houps, listen to
Annette V. Daniels.
KEYWORDS: TEACHER OF THE YEAR by CNB