Lamp Earns Arch Coal Teacher Achievement Award

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (May 1, 2007) – After 30 years, Eva Marie Lamp has no regrets about her chosen profession. “I love kids,” she explains. “They are my motivation to teach.

“It is their thirst for knowledge and quest to discover the unknown that keeps me energized,” Lamp adds. “The imagination and creativity the children exhibit make me excited about my chosen profession. I get such a sense of accomplishment each time I see a student grasp a new concept. These experiences keep me inspired to continue teaching.”

Today Lamp had yet another reason to keep up the good work. She became one of only 10 teachers statewide to earn an Arch Coal Teacher Achievement Award. Steven F. Leer, Arch Coal chairman and chief executive officer, made the announcement during a presentation ceremony at Afflerbach Elementary School in Cheyenne. He was accompanied by Governor Dave Freudenthal, First Lady Nancy Freudenthal, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Dr. Jim McBride, and Wyoming Education Association President Kathryn Valido.

“Eva teaches young students the importance of thinking independently, exploring their horizons and becoming problem-solvers – skills they will use throughout their lives,” says Leer. “She sets high expectations for both her students and herself – and those expectations are often exceeded.”

Lamp teaches fourth-grade students at Kemmerer Elementary, Diamondville. “Each child deserves the opportunity to receive a well-rounded education,” she notes. “I feel it is the responsibility of our teachers, administrators, parents and community to work together to create the best learning environment for our students.

“We often stifle our students’ creativity by thinking that because they are a certain age or grade level they are only able to accomplish specific goals,” Lamp adds. “I have discovered that students will learn as much as you are willing to teach them.”

Lamp earned her bachelor’s degree at the University of Wyoming and has completed more than 60 hours of postgraduate studies. She has served on a number of education-based committees and has received three education grants. Lamp continues her development through academic courses, workshops and conferences. She is featured on the “Teacher Spotlight” Internet site for Pine Grove Consulting and has been published in Learning Magazine. Lamp has written and developed skilled sequences for learning kits marketed by the Developmental Learning Materials Company. Her professional affiliations include the Wyoming and National Education associations. Lamp further supports her community through involvement in civic, patriotic, humanitarian, environmental and extracurricular education-related activities.

The award is underwritten by the Arch Coal Foundation. In addition to recognition, award recipients receive a $2,500, unrestricted cash prize, a distinctive trophy and a classroom plaque.

This is the seventh year the Arch Coal Teacher Achievement Awards have been made in Wyoming. The program is supported by the Department of Education, the Wyoming Education Association, Taco John’s, Loaf ‘n Jug, and the Wyoming library community.

Arch Coal is one of the nation’s largest coal producers and employs more than 1,200 people in Wyoming. Arch Coal’s Black Thunder mine sells more than 90 million tons of clean-burning, low-sulfur coal on an annual basis. Located in Campbell County, Black Thunder mine is one of the largest and most efficient coal mines in the world. Arch Coal is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: ACI) and maintains its corporate headquarters in St. Louis, Mo.