During the teachers' demonstration Monday, Hafen Elementary School first-grade teacher Alice Johnson related that many times a teacher is not only involved with her student but also acts as a support system for an entire family.

"The mother of one of my students asked if her child could put more than one assignment on a sheet of paper," said Johnson.

It turned out that both parents had lost their jobs and they couldn't afford to buy their child paper. "I gave the mom paper for her child," said Johnson, "but that's just a small example of the roll teachers play in the lives of their students.

"We have to encourage the children. When we praise a child for doing well on an assignment, their eyes sparkle. You never know what will lead a child on the path to achievement."