When it comes to teaching students who have been struggling to learn or who have been turned off by school altogether, our January Teacher of the Month believes that where there is a will there’s a way.

Patricia Lamar teaches science at the Delta Learning Center in south suburban Robbins. It’s an alternative for students who have difficulty in traditional schools.

Ms Lamar has a reputation of meeting her students on their level then exposing them to the world around them, gaining their confidence and respect, churning out creative ways to grab their attention and keep them interested.

Whether the lesson is about creating a model of a cell or learning how the periodic table works or a lab on velocity students say they leave Ms. Lamar’s class room feeling good.

Ms. Lamar says she is going to use the check from St Xavier University to make a down payment on an outdoor therapeutic classroom she and a co-worker are developing on the grounds of the school.