Editor, The Demopolis Times,

I am a Kindergarten teacher at Westside Elementary.

On Tuesday, May 11, 2004, Wal-Mart announced that I had been selected Wal-Mart’s Teacher of the Year 2004-05.

Their representative presented me with a Wal-Mart vest, a plaque, and a check for $1,000

made payable to Westside Elementary.

I sincerely thank Wal-Mart, Store #731, for this honor.

I also thank everyone in the community who took their time to nominate me.

I deeply appreciate the kind words that were said about why I was chosen the Teacher of the Year.

I was so surprised and humbled at the presentation ceremony that I do not remember all of the reasons that the Wal-Mart representative stated.

I do remember hearing the words “this teacher shows her ‘love’ for teaching and her ‘love’ for children.”

I know Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior.

It is HE that gives me the “love” I have for teaching and for children, since HE showed us how to love by dying for us.

Again, I thank Wal-Mart for this honor, and for the $1000.

Our school will benefit from their generosity.

Demopolis, Alabama

May 13, 2004