In front of the entire student body, the principal of Medway Elementary presented Danielle Romine '94 (left), with balloons, flowers and a huge sign declaring her Miami Valley Teacher of the Year.

SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - Danielle Romine, a 1994 graduate of Wittenberg University, is enjoying her summer vacation after a memorable school year in which she was named "Miami Valley Teacher of the Year." Romine, a fifth-grade teacher for 10 years at Medway Elementary in Tecumseh Local School District, holds a bachelor's degree in early childhood education/dual licensure from Wittenberg.

Romine earned the Teacher of the Week award in January, qualifying her for the top honors of the Teacher of the Year award. Representatives from Meijer stores, Coca- Cola and WMMX radio selected Romine for the award from the more than 80 nominations received from parents and students. Romine said she was "surprised, excited and overwhelmed" by this honor.

"What touched me most was that people actually went online to cast their vote for me, and to think that I have touched the lives of children," Romine said.

Romine was honored with a plaque and other gifts from the sponsors of the award.

"Wittenberg has an excellent teacher-education program, and I've shared wonderful experiences working with student teachers from its program," Romine added.

About her future plans, she said, "I might go into supervision, but I'm not finished teaching."

Romine resides in Springfield with her husband, Dave, and their children Rob and Savannah.

The education department faculty at Wittenberg believes that becoming a teacher involves more than developing a narrowly defined set of skills. Wittenberg-educated teachers benefit from the breadth and depth of a liberal arts preparation.

To learn more about the teacher education program at Wittenberg, call (937) 327-6417, or visit the education department Web site at www.wittenberg.edu.