BURLINGTON - Stephanie Hill loves her job teaching kindergarten at Burlington Elementary simply because she loves her students.

Hill is being recognized for her creativity and success in the classroom as a Disney Teacher Award nominee. She joins an elite group of teachers from all over the country, who have been recognized by their communities.

&#8220I was shocked, surprised and, I think, amazed that someone took the time to nominate me for an award,” Hill said of the honor.

She is now submitting an application to be considered for the 2006 Disney Teacher of the Year Award

as the next step in the awards process.

In addition to letters of recommendation, Hill will submit an application that includes several professional reflection essays describing her classroom and approach to teaching, the impact of high stakes testing, how she approaches collaboration in her school and career and an event that shaped her as a teacher.

A committee comprised of education experts from around the country will then review the nominee applications and select the 2006 Disney Teacher Award Honorees.

The honorees will be announced late spring and celebrated at a red-carpet awards gala in July.

Four honorees will be selected as Outstanding Teachers and one will be named the 2006 Disney Teacher of the Year.

In addition, the honorees each receive $10,000, a $5,000 grant for their schools and a 6-day professional development institute with their principals at the Walt Disney World Resort.

&#8220I am very pleased and honored to have been nominated for such a prestigious award. I have the privilege of teaching in a wonderful school with colleagues that support and foster creativity,” she said.

&#8220I am especially grateful for the opportunity to let a broader educational community know about the importance of kindergarten and its impact on the future success of students. Kindergarten is often overlooked as playtime, therefore it is nice to be recognized for the teaching of kindergarten students.”

Hill said the most important thing she does with her students is love them.

She recalls the words of Mother Teresa by saying &#8220There are no great works, only things done with great love.”

Teaching kindergarten students, she said, is really fun. She said the age group has no preconceived notions about life. They embrace it and they are eager to learn.

&#8220I get more from them than they get from me,” she said with a smile.

Although the students learn some things through play, they must constantly prepare for things such as proficiency tests.

The kindergarten teachers test the students at the beginning of the year to test for kindergarten readiness, but Hill said, they also asses the students every four weeks to let the parents know how they're doing.

Hill and her fellow Burlington kindergarten teachers, Lela Petrie and Kelli Helton, have recently received more good news, as well. They have received a $2,500 grant that will be used to promote the arts.

Funds will be used to pay for field trips to the Paramount Arts Center in Ashland, Ky., to pay for books to the show, buying art supplies, field trips to the Huntington (W.Va.) Museum of Art, and to pay for an art show at the end of the year.

By the end of the year, the kindergarten students will each have six books to take home and read. Hill said they are all really excited about the grant.

Hill said all the teachers at Burlington Elementary are wonderful and that the school is full of really good teachers. Hill said she wished the attention would not just be focused on her as each teacher is every bit as deserving of the award.

Despite her modesty, her peers want to talk about Hill's efforts.

&#8220Mrs. Hill is a goal-oriented teacher who works tirelessly to ensure her students succeed,”

Burlington Elementary principal Mark Christian said. &#8220Stephanie is very dedicated to the field of education and children in general. She always has an energetic and enthusiastic outlook that influences those around her.”

&#8220Stephanie is a very caring and compassionate teacher who goes the &#8220extra mile” for her students.”