Two local teachers’ essays describing how they learned that appearances can be deceiving are featured in the newest edition of the popular Chicken Soup series.
Sherry Poff, head of the English Department at Grace Baptist Academy, and Luajean N. Bryan, mathematics teacher at Walker Valley High School in Cleveland, Tenn., were selected to represent Tennessee in “Chicken Soup for the Soul: Teacher Tales” (Chicken Soup for the Soul Publishing, $14.95.)
“Teacher Tales” was the idea of Anthony Mullen, the 2009 National Teacher of the Year, according to James Gubera, publicist for the book. It is a compilation of 101 inspirational stories that illustrate what a difference a teacher can make in the life of a student.
“In an unprecedented move, all 55 of the 2009 State Teachers of the Year have come together in this project,” Mr. Gubera said in a news release.
As the Tennessee mathematics teacher of the year, Ms. Bryan contributed two examples of students enduring stressful home lives. For one, she was able to help lighten the burden; the other’s situation didn’t come to light until after a parent’s death.