Jacquie's Gold Stars

Each month I honor an individual, team, program, school, or piece of legislation that is helping to promote a quality education for kids. I welcome your nomination for this honor, and I will consider thoughtfully any name(s) you recommend. You can use the "Contact " link to make a nomination. Please explain why you think your nominee should be honored, and let me know how I can contact you for verification. And if you're one of a group that has gone the extra mile, tell me know about it. It doesn't hurt to blow your own horn once in awhile. And besides, nobody will ever accuse you of bragging because I don't ever reveal the nominator's name.

-------------------------------------------------

Rochester, New York

Joe Sottile (rhymes with so-silly) retired from teaching a decade ago, but he did not abandon his love of poetry or his passion for kids. Sottile, author of Bathroom Vacation and Other Poems (1998), Picture Poetry on Parade (2004), and Waiting to See the Principal and Other Poems (2007), is more than a teacher/poet. He's a bona fide comedian who teaches and entertains at the same time.

Wearing a "unique" vest and a multi-colored beanie with a whirly-gig on top, Sottile is a pro at tickling kids' funny bones. During the school year he visits dozens of Rochester schools, sharing his whimsical poetry and discussing the craft of writing. And his good works are reaching students throughout the world.

Sottile uses his Website (http://www.consideration.org/sottile/) to run a monthly poetry contest for kids. The contest — open to ALL kids — has no age restrictions, no minimum or maximum number of lines, and no entrance fee. Sottile says he has two reasons for running this highly popular contest. He wants kids to experience the fun of writing poetry (be it silly, serious, or mysterious), and he wants to provide a forum where kids' poetic efforts can be recognized.

The poem that follows was written by seven-year-old Anu as he was preparing to go to the Lyceum International School Nugegoda in Sri Lanka where he is receiving his education. It was a monthly contest winner published on Sottile's Website.

Sottille invites students (individually or as a class project) to send their entries to jsottile@frontiernet.net between the first of the month and the 21st. Each month's winning entry is posted in the Contest Section of Sottile's Website along with the student's name, age, and school. The work is displayed at the site for 30 days, at which time a new winner is named. All "retired" pieces are placed in the archives where they can be accessed at any time.

You can find more information about this contest and see Sottile's "Poetry Suggestions for Kids" by visiting his Website at (http://www.consideration.org/sottile/) and clicking on the "Silly Stuff for Kids" link.

Joe Sottile is a retired educator who has not tired from his calling of helping kids become the best that they can be. Thank you, Joe. You are no longer an "official" teacher, but you're still teaching. And you're still touching children's lives in a positive way.