LEONARD GRAY / L’Observateur / May 17, 2000

LULING – Four teachers in St. Charles Parish Schools have been picked as”the best of the best,” according to Superintendent Dr. Rodney Lafon, andthe four share similar qualities which make them the best.

“I love children and wanted to have an impact on their future,” said Mary Beth Kugler Anderson, a resident of Destrehan and writing teacher at Mimosa Park Elementary School for the past three years.

Anderson is the 2000 teacher of the year for the primary school level, which also includes A.A. Songy Kindergarten, Allemands Elementary, LulingElementary, New Sarpy Kindergarten, New Sarpy Elementary, Norco K-3 Elementary and St. Rose Primary.”I’ve always enjoyed being a teacher, even as a child,” Anderson commented in a biographical essay. “As a parent, I felt a strong urge or obligation toteach as if I was teaching my own children, caring about their educational and emotional needs.”Anderson graduated from Louisiana State University with a degree in speech and hearing therapy and worked in Slidell, Baton Rouge and Lubbock, Texas.

But she soon felt there was something missing.

“I always felt that I didn’t know the children well enough as individuals, and that I was missing out on the classroom scene,” Anderson commented.

So Anderson went back for her elementary certification at the University of Arlington (Texas) and Nicholls State University, finishing in 1991.

The results have been obvious.

“I get a high from seeing their progress,” she said.

Virginia Morgan, a resident of Harvey and teacher at R.J. Vial ElementarySchool for the past 11 years, is 2000 teacher of the year for the upper elementary level schools, which also includes Carver Elementary, Lakewood Elementary, Norco 4-6 Elementary and Schoeffner Elementary.

“I went into teaching because I wanted to make a difference in the world,” Morgan said, “and what better way than to mold the future?” Back in high school Morgan’s interest in education was shaped by participation in Future Teachers of America. In college she pursued acomputer science degree until teaching lured her back.

“I have somehow always had the ability to reach and touch each particular student during their greatest need,” Morgan said. “My students know fromthe first day that I care about them. They also know they can trust andcount on me.”She graduated from Nicholls State University, taught in Terrebonne and Orleans parishes and worked as director of education for River Region Hospital in Vacherie before coming to St. Charles Parish in 1989.Morgan commented: “Over the years, I have seen styles and attitudes change greatly. The one thing that has stayed consistent is a child’s heartand soul. Children not only need to be taught, but they need love andcompassion. I strive to give all three.”Barbara Maronge Forshag, a resident of Luling and language arts teacher at Eual J. Landry Sr. Middle School for 15 years, is the 2000 teacher of theyear for the middle school level, which also includes Albert Cammon Middle, Harry M. Hurst Middle and J.B. Martin Middle School.”I really think I was born to be a teacher,” Forshag said.

She said much of what steered her in the direction of education came in her formative years growing up in the Bienville Housing Project in New Orleans and her participation in Girl Scouting and at the St. Mark’s CommunityCenter.

“God allowed me to experience life in such a way that I could have great empathy for students,” Forshag commented. “He gave me a hunger forknowledge and a love for life.”Despite being a twin in a financially-strapped household, she nonetheless finished college at Southeastern Louisiana University in 1970 and taught at Carver Elementary, Hahnville High School and J.B. Martin Middle before herpresent job.

This is her second selection as teacher of the year – rare in St. CharlesParish Schools.

Robert Fisher, a resident of Kenner and talented art teacher at Destrehan High School for the past two years, is the 2000 teacher of the year in the high school level, which also includes Hahnville High School.

Fisher graduated from Bonnabel High School and completed a bachelor of fine arts degree at LSU.

Fisher said he backed into teaching, but once he was hooked he stayed hooked.

“If someone told me 20 years ago that I would be a teacher today, I would have said that person was insane,” Fisher added.

He said he gave a ride to a neighborhood youngster to a basketball game one day and encountered the school’s principal, his former eighth-grade social studies teacher. That led to substitute teaching and to several years at St.Charles Catholic High in LaPlace, teaching art and drafting.

In 1996 he was asked to work for the city of Kenner as assistant director of community development and thought teaching was behind him. However, thelure proved too strong. So when Destrehan High came calling he jumped atthe opportunity.

“It’s just in my bones,” he said. “While I may appear tough at times, mystudents know that it is only because I want them to strive for excellence.”The results are clear. One of Fisher’s former students, Pamela Reine, ateacher at St. Joan of Arc School, was 1999’s Louisiana Elementary SchoolTeacher of the Year.

Fisher hopes he was some influence in shaping Reine as an educator.

“If so, I am honored and elated that I exemplified the ideals of a good, caring teacher that allowed her to follow in my footsteps,” he said.

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