IT'S JUST AFTER 8AM AND JANIE ALVARADO'S CLASS STEPS RIGHT INTO ACTION.

HER 20 KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS, KEEP HER VERY BUSY, HOWEVER SHE QUICKLY ADDS THAT SHE LOVES TEACHING. RARELY HAVING TIME TO SIT DOWN, SHE MAKES SURE EACH STUDENT IS CARED FOR

MARIA HAMILTON, A PARENT WHO NOMINATED MS. ALVARADO, SAYS THAT SHE IS THE CREAM OF THE CROP, ALWAYS GOING THE EXTRA MILE TO HELP HER STUDENTS.

<"I've been working with Janie Alvarado for about 8 years. She's an awesome Kindergarten Teacher. She makes sure that her whole class is sucessful an on task. I'm really proud to be on her team  >Peggy Odem\Teacher
<"Well I'm brand new here and she's been a real inspiration to me, since I've been here. She's always real helpful. So kind and patient with the children. You can just tell she loves what she does."  >Kari Scott\Teacher
ALVARADO SAYS THAT SHE MAKES SURE SHE LETS STUDENTS KNOW HOW MUCH SHE CARES ABOUT THEM. RE-ASSURING THEM AND SPEAKING ON THEIR LEVEL. GIVING EXTRA ATTENTION WHEN IT IS NEEDED.
SHE KNOWS THAT WHEN STUDENTS ARE PROMOTED TO ANOTHER GRADE LEVEL, THEY HAVE THE PROPER KNOWLEDGE TO BE ON TOP.

<"I want them to feel secure in any room that their in. I think we're the ones who start them off in Kindergarten. So I always want them to succeed in life. And this is where it starts."  >[\Janie Alvarado\Educator Of The Week]