Hello SMETA! I am Sara Pylate, the acting president of Southeast Missouri's English Teacher's Association. Through networking, lesson sharing, and idea exchange, SMETA empowers us to be excellent English educators. As I dig into my seventh year of teaching, I realize more and more how important it is to have a premier professional organization. From creative lesson planning options to classroom management strategies, SMETA is effective. At the Fall conferences, I appreciate the feeling of collegiality and the support system that can only be created by fellow, caring English teachers. Like I mentioned in my newsletter welcome, I would love it if my first hour class would clap their hands and squeal with delight at learning as my one year old daughter does, but alas, that will probably never happen. In exchange, I take what I can from the expert members of SMETA and use them as inspiration to create a motivational, stimulating English classroom. Join me and access the wonderful opportunities SMETA offers.