Janel Allen is laughing quietly, almost to herself, as she recalls the past 13 years as a teacher. There is a childlike sparkle in her eyes, seen in so many of the youngsters who have passed through her classroom, and it's easy to see why she's Bermuda's Teacher of the Year. Ms Allen has an endless supply of energy and a consuming passion for teaching that has made her a leader among her peers and the darling of each of her students.

The Royal Gazette sat down with this extraordinary woman earlier this month to talk about her commitment to education and the challenges she faces every day as a teacher.

Like many teachers, Ms Allen's love for education started at a young age. She recalls being about seven years old when her stepfather built her a clubhouse at their home in Wichita, Kansas. The clubhouse became her classroom during playtime and her friends became her willing pupils.

"If only they could see me now," she chuckles. "We had a horseshoe on the outside of the door which we put there when it was time for clubhouse."

She says she always knew she wanted to teach, but after getting her Batchelors Degree in Education from the University of Nebraska, her career took a detour which eventually led her back to Bermuda.

She was teaching in Nebraska and working part-time for the Marriott. When the hotel announced it was opening in Bermuda, she lept at the chance to return home. Turns out Ms Allen was born and raised in Bermuda as her father was a serviceman in the US Air Force based in the East End. She can still recall her formative years playing at Clearwater Beach.

Finally back in Bermuda, Ms Allen spent 12 years working as the reservation manager for the Castle Harbour Marriott and when the hotel closed its doors, she returned to her first love — teaching.

"I was right back where I needed to be," she says with a broad smile.

That was 13 years ago when she started teaching P5 at Harrington Sound. She later switched to P4 and next year returns to teaching P5.

When she told her former P4 students that she was going forward with them to P5, they were ecstatic to say the least:

"When I made the announcement at the close of school, they all screamed and clapped.

When asked why she thought she won the title of Teacher of the Year for 2007-2008, Ms Allen sighs and raises her eyes to the ceiling in thought.

"I love my job and I love my students," she begins, "I put my heart into it and I always encourage my students to be the best they can be. I am also involved in their lives outside the classroom in extra curricular activities."

Continuing her own education is just as important as that of her students and Ms Allen recently completed a diploma in the Literacy Collaborative Programme in Cambridge, Massachusets. This will be implemented in schools in September.

"Last year was a very challenging year because I was not only maintaining my class here, but doing the course and homework assignments and travelling," she adds. "We travelled maybe once a month between August 2007 and July this year. I tell my students that I might be a teacher, but I'm also just an ordinary adult like their parents and I don't know it all, which is why I'm interested in learning something new every day. I also tell them to remain open-minded."

As for the most important lesson she's ever learned, she replies: "Strive for your goals and don't let anyone tell you can't reach them!"

She says she teaches because seeing the sparkle in a child's eye when they get something right is the highlight of her day. "I just encourage them to keep doing their best every day."

As for challenges, Ms Allen describes her former P4 pupils as "bright little stars" who have an unquenchable thirst for knowledge:

"They would challenge me at times, wanting to know what they can do next. I have been focusing more on language and writing and the writing that is coming from these students is amazing. I tell their parents they have no idea what their children are capable of and they should let them spread their wings and they will surprise them!"

For any new teacher starting their career, Ms Allen has the following advice: "Love your job and go into it for the right reasons. Be open-minded to the students and let them teach you. You need to work with them. It's not always about the teachers knowing everything... they are bright and want to share their experiences with you. I would encourage any new teacher to be open-minded, positive and to love what they do."

She believes wholeheartedly that you have to have a passion for teaching and a genuine concern for your students. But there is also a shared respect and the secret to her success has been consistency.

"I am very consistent in discipline with my rules and regulation, even in what I say and the students know that," she elaborates.

Using the example of appearance, Ms Allen says if a student tried to come into her classroom with a shirt hanging out, they knew to go right back outside and neaten up before returning. She adds with a chuckle that when a student forgets and comes into the classroom untidy, the other students look to her to "enforce the rules".

"Consistency," she says, "is very important to a child." Ms Allen believes primary school and especially P4 is important because it's the "moulding stage" for any child and can make the difference between an honour student and a truant.

"That's where they develop their skills and styles, and once again the trick is consistency and teaching them to move forward," she concludes. "It's a very important grade level and now that I'm moving up with them (to P5), I am very confident and excited to see them progress further in education. It's a good feeling."