THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, May 9, 1996 TAG: 9605080107
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY SHIRLEY BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 97 lines
TONI HARBAGE was so impressed by the teaching style of a professor at the former Norfolk Division of the College of William and Mary that she decided then and there to pursue a career in education.
A third-grader, she was a fascinated onlooker in the classroom where her mother, Hilda Reppert, was a student. The college is now Old Dominion University.
A widow at age 36, and with two small children to support, Harbage's mother enrolled in college to earn a bachelor's degree in education. She often had no choice but to take her daughter to class with her.
``I watched the professor teach,'' Harbage said. ``He had no book, but he was a walking encyclopedia . . . and he made it interesting. As he lectured, he built pictures for his students.''
Today, Harbage, 46, exudes energy and enthusiasm for her chosen field. And as a second-grade teacher at Nansemond Parkway Elementary School, she has adopted the teaching style that inspired her years ago.
``I once made my seventh-grade teacher mad because I told him he was boring,'' Harbage said, laughing. ``I don't teach with a book in my hand. I have to know my subject matter well enough to just let it fly. I have a passion for teaching.''
Obviously, Harbage's skills and love of teaching have made an impression on her peers. She was recently selected as Suffolk Public Schools' 1997 Teacher of the Year.
Earlier, she was nominated by popular vote as Nansemond Parkway's outstanding teacher. Then, along with other Suffolk teachers selected by their respective schools, Harbage got a packet of information and a questionnaire of eight categories. The answers were submitted for judging by a panel of distinguished educators.
``I pondered over it for three weeks,'' she said. ``I think teaching, live it, breathe it . . . but it's hard to put in paragraph form.''
Harbage's philosophy is that children should have fun while learning.
``My aim each year is to take the new class of children and turn them on to learning,'' she said. ``Smiles, giggles, love and encouragement should erupt in the classroom. I know this to be true, because at the end of each school year, I reflect back to the day in September when the class looked at me with eyes filled with fear and apprehension.''
As a reading resource teacher at Nansemond Parkway Elementary, Harbage works with other teachers to develop thematic teaching programs. These programs involve learning required subjects under one particular theme or umbrella within a designated time frame, Harbage said.
``Right now, we are studying the solar system, and I have space ships made out of junk flying through the classroom on fishing lines,'' she said.
``We inter-relate all classes,'' she continued. ``We read and write about a certain subject, and the children see the total scope of what's happening. Then, the concept gels with them.''
Harbage realizes the importance of building a child's self-esteem and nurturing a positive atmosphere in the classroom.
``I had the misfortune to have one of my teachers tell me I was not smart and that I needed to take only vocational classes. I permitted that teacher to tell me what I should think of myself, and it took many people a number of years to erase this negative thinking,'' she said.
Harbage expressed her desire for a slow-learner program on the elementary level in Suffolk schools.
``I'm so concerned about the children who fall through the cracks,'' she said. ``My mom tutors my students during school whenever she's needed.''
Harbage was born in Frankfurt, Germany, while her father was stationed there with the Army. After a short tour in France, the family was transferred to several U.S. cities before her father died. They finally settled near her grandparents' home in the Deep Creek area of Chesapeake.
Harbage is a graduate of Deep Creek High School. She has received a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in elementary education and a Certificate of Advanced Studies at ODU.
In 1974, Harbage began her teaching career at Holland Elementary School before transferring to Driver and Elephant's Fork where she taught kindergarten for 13 years.
``I lived in Deep Creek until I was 40,'' Harbage said, smiling, ``Then along came a white knight in shining armor.''
While studying for a doctorate, Harbage met her husband, Allan R. Harbage, who was working on a master's degree at ODU.
In 1990, Harbage said major changes took place in her life. She married and moved to Nansemond River Elementary as a second-grade teacher. The Harbages are building a home and plan to move to northern Suffolk.
A sixth-grade teacher at Peninsula Christian Schools in Smithfield, Allan Harbage will leave in June to attend the Southeastern Seminary in Raleigh, N.C. to become a minister of education. He will commute between Raleigh and Suffolk on weekends.
Toni Harbage has a busy summer planned. In addition to teaching Sunday school at Nansemond River Baptist Church, she also will assume the duties of summer school principal at Kilby Shores Elementary School. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by JOHN H. SHEALLY II
``Right now, we are studying the solar system, and I have space
ships made out of junk flying through the classroom on fishing
lines,'' said second-grade teacher Toni Harbage.
by CNB