Nancy Doty of Rawlins’ Mt. View Elementary Named Arch Coal Teacher Award Recipient

Cheyenne (May 3, 2002) - Nancy Doty, a second-grade teacher at Rawlins’ Mt. View Elementary, feels she “was born to teach.” “It only takes one person to make a difference in the life of a child,” says Doty. “This is why I have made teaching my life!”

Today, Steven F. Leer, Arch Coal president and chief executive officer, honored Doty as a 2002 Arch Coal Teacher Achievement Award recipient. Gov. Jim Geringer, Superintendent of Public Instruction Judy Catchpole, and Wyoming Education Association Communications Director Ron Sniffin joined Leer at the awards ceremony, which took place at Jessup Elementary School in Cheyenne.

“Arch Coal is pleased to honor 10 excellent Wyoming teachers, who daily bring the magic of learning to their students,” says Leer. “We believe that great classroom teachers are primary, positive influences in American education. I know these teachers dare their students to succeed  and then teach them how.”

“Nancy is an outstanding leader and trainer of teachers,” says Dr. Marshall Blankenship, superintendent of schools in Rawlins. “She is a tireless advocate of excellence in education.”

“She often makes telephone or personal calls to communicate with families,” says Dr. Robert Morgan, assistant superintendent of schools. “Her colleagues recognize her capabilities and regularly seek her out for her instructional insights and methods.”

Colleague Shana LaLomia-Blankenship reflects on Doty’s efforts, saying, “Nancy mends broken lives and encourages the hopes of her impoverished children. A child, who came to school in winter without socks, had socks before the first recess, because Nancy knows a child learns better when his feet are warm.”

“As we dive head first into the 21st century, I never want to lose sight of the fact that learning should be fun,” Doty says. “We sing and dance our way through the dental health unit and prepare beautifully decorated boxes for our lunch social, celebrating and assessing our knowledge of the food groups and food pyramid. We invite our grandparents to tea and celebrate our love of reading, as we spend quality time together.”

Doty uses a number of resources and techniques in her classroom to teach and to develop self-esteem in her students. “Our daily motto, ’I can do it!’ is recited often, especially when beginning new tasks, facing difficult assessment, learning from our mistakes or venturing into uncharted waters,” she says.

Doty has been a teacher for 25 years. She is a graduate of State University of New York and has taken graduate studies at Colorado State University and the University of Wyoming. She is active in church and community programs.

Each recipient receives a $2,500 unrestricted cash award and a distinctive glass trophy, in addition to other recognition. The Arch Coal teacher recognition program is unique because it features public nomination and peer selection. This is the second year for the Arch Coal Teacher Achievement Awards in Wyoming.

The Department of Education, the Wyoming Education Association, Taco John’s and MiniMart support Arch Coal in the program.

Arch Coal is the nation’s second largest coal producer and employs more than 500 people in Wyoming. The company produces more than 65 million tons of clean-burning, low-sulfur coal annually at its Wyoming operations. Its Black Thunder operation in Campbell County is one of the nation’s largest and most efficient coal mines. Arch Coal is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: ACI) and maintains its corporate headquarters in St. Louis.