Gunn to be honored for service at MSTA meeting

SIKESTON -- Dr. Sharon Gunn comes from a long line teachers in her family so it only seems fitting that she followed in her family's footsteps and joined the profession nearly 30 years ago.

On Friday Gunn's work won't go unnoticed as the assistant superintendent for special services and elementary education for Sikeston R-6 Schools is honored for her meritorious service to education at the Southeast Regional Missouri State Teachers Association meeting on the campus of Southeast Missouri State University.

"There's no one more deserving," said Dr. Larry Bohannon, assistant superintendent for secondary education and professional development, about Gunn. "She is a bulldog through and through -- ever since birth. She loves this district and she has served it well."

A 1967 graduate of Sikeston High school, Gunn has worked for Sikeston Public schools since 1973, first as an elementary teacher and then as an elementary principal.

"It's a profession that I recommend for those who want to deal with people," Gunn said. "I wouldn't change a minute of my 31-and-a-half years here. It's been a great thing for me and it's what I was chosen to do."

Gunn said she's very proud to work in a school district that takes good care of their kids, but as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end. In June, Gunn will say goodbye to her second home of more than 30 years as she retires.

"It was a very hard decision to make because when you get there (retirement) it is such a life-altering decision because you've done something for so long and you think, 'Did I do the right thing?'"

But Gunn thinks she will probably still work in education in one form or another after she retires.

East Prairie R-2's Russell Clinard and former Dexter Public Schools teacher and administrator Dr. Ray Dowdy will also be honored for their meritorious service to education on Friday. In the fall of 1967, Russell Clinard joined the East Prairie R-2 High School staff as a science teacher and he later taught computer literacy courses. He spent 27 of his 37 years teaching in the classroom and was instrumental in establishing the technology in the school. Most recently Clinard, who retired two years ago, has worked as the district's technology coordinator.

"I have a lot of good memories over the years. It's a really good school district and a really good place to work," said Clinard.

To be eligible for the Meritorious Service to Education award, each Community Teachers Association within a school district nominates an individual and those applications are sent to the Southeast Regional Executive Committee for a final decision.

"Meritorious Service to Education honors are supposed to recognize those individuals who have made significant contributions to education at local and state levels," explained Stan Bandermann, field service representative for the Southeast Regional MSTA office located in Cape Girardeau.

Since 75 school districts make up the Southeast MSTA, it is very much an honor to receive the Meritorious Service to Education award, Bandermann pointed out.

"Most of the recipients will make some kind of reference that it seems to be especially nice to be recognized by one's peers, which is the truest form of compliment," Bandermann said.

Also at Friday's meeting, another educator from the East Prairie School District will be honored. R.A. Doyle Elementary's second grade teacher, Carolyn Peters, will receive the Outstanding Community Teachers Association (CTA) Leader award for the Southeast Region.

Outstanding CTA Leader is an award for one or more individuals who have made a strong contribution for being a CTA leader within the CTA as well as a regional or even state level.

Peters has taught at R.A. Doyle Elementary for the past 33 years.

"I'm very proud to have taught at East Prairie," Peters said. "The people I work with are the best. They're just like a family. Everybody helps everybody, and the environment is wonderful place to be."

Peters said she has not plans of retiring anytime soon. "I still like what I do," Peters said. "I still like coming to school every day, and when I don't like it, that's when I'll quit. As long as I still enjoy teaching, am still healthy and able to keep it up, I'll keep doing it."