DATE: Sunday, April 27, 1997                TAG: 9704250280

SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS     PAGE: 07   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: COVER STORY CLOSE-UP 

SOURCE: Doris Townsley 

                                            LENGTH:   74 lines

JOCELYN WOOD: THE HIGH SCHOOLS' FINEST

Getting back to the basics. That's what Jocelyn Wood, the city's 1997-98 High School Teacher of the Year, perceives as a cure for education's ills.

``I think that education and students on a whole would be much better if we would go back to the way it used to be,'' said Wood, who has taught at I.C. Norcom High School for 23 years. ``I just think we should be more family-oriented.''

Wood, who is head of the business department and cooperative office education coordinator at Norcom, practices what she preaches by doing her part to involve parents in their children's education. She keeps in close contact with parents by letter and telephone and urges them to call her whenever they have questions. Each year, when students enter the COE program, she holds a reception for parents and students, where she explains the program.

``I think if you communicate with the parents and the students and let them know your expectations,'' she said, ``then you don't have problems.''

Wood, who teaches junior/senior accounting and word processing, also believes that students have an appetite for knowledge and that it's the teacher's responsibility to feed that appetite.

``I believe that all children can learn and succeed,'' she said, ``and we just have to motivate our children.''

In her accounting classes, she shows her students how it relates to everyday life, and in word processing, she teaches her students to be creative.

The High School Teacher of the Year award was the first major award she has received for her teaching. The best thing about it, she said, is that it gave her a chance to learn how people really felt about her.

Being a teacher is a gift, Wood said, because it is something she truly enjoys.

``It's very seldom,'' she said, ``that a person can find a job that becomes a career and that they enjoy.''

Part of that enjoyment, Wood said, comes from working with the business department staff, a group of women that is ``second to none.''

Name: Jocelyn L. Wood.

Nickname: Sister.

Neighborhood: Eva Gardens in Chesapeake.

Birthplace: Chesapeake.

Birthdate: September 20, 1951.

What other job than your own would you like? My own computer or typing service business.

Marital status: single.

Fondest childhood memory: Christmas time, when my parents prepared bags of ``goodies'' for us.

What song title best describes your life? ``I'm Blessed.''

If you won the lottery, what's the very first thing you'd buy? Supplies to build a new place of worship for my church.

Biggest accomplishment: Teaching. It's nice doing what you want to do.

Most embarrassing moment: I came out of the restroom with my dress askew.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? I should do more things for myself.

Perfect way to spend the day: Lay in bed and watch old shows.

I can't resist: Shopping.

Favorite Portsmouth restaurant: Scale 'O De Whale.

Biggest problem facing Portsmouth: Money.

If you had three wishes for Portsmouth, what would they be?

1. Unlimited school budget.

2. To see the community flourish.

3. To see businesses revitalized. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by BILL TIERNAN

`I think that education and students on a whole would be much better

if we would go back to the way it used to be,'' said Jocelyn Wood,

who has taught at I.C. Norcom High School for 23 years. ``I just

think we should be more family-oriented.'' KEYWORDS: PORTSMOUTH'S 1997-1998 TEACHERS OF THE YEAR

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