2001 Delaware Teacher of the Year
Ms. Harper teaches grades seven and eight students English/Language Arts and Critical Writing at Delmar Middle School in Delmar, Delaware. She has been teaching for ten years.

What are your beliefs about teaching?
"When asked what I teach, I do not say that I teach English. Instead I say that I teach students. I answer in this manner because I believe my job is to inspire students with a variety of backgrounds and abilities to be life-long learners."

How are your beliefs incorporated in your teaching style?
"As a teacher of writing, I teach my students to find their own voice. My students know that I see them as smart and capable – I tell them this often and make sure they know that they are important in my life."

What is your greatest teaching accomplishment?
"My greatest accomplishment was being named Delaware Teacher of the Year 2001 as well as being nominated for Disney Teacher of the Year 2001."

What's the most critical issue facing educators today and what do you think can be done to resolve this issue?
"The most critical issue facing educators today is the need for parental involvement in public education. Public education is a microcosm of society and the social problems of our communities – drugs, apathy, violence and unemployment are intertwined with our schools. If I could give just three words of advice to the parents of our school-age children to help combat these problems, they would be participation, participation, participation!"

Inspirational thought:
"Remember that teaching is the most revered word in the English language. It is the only profession that touches all other professions and allows us to make a difference every day."