TEACHER'S CORNER; JOBY HOLLAND TEACHES PHYSICAL EDUCATION AT ORAN

ORAN -- As physical education teacher for Grades K-12 at Oran R-3 School, Joby Holland teaches his students the skills that they need to grow in a physical sense.

Holland is in his first year of teaching.

A graduate of Thomas W. Kelly High School at Benton, Holland attended Maryville College for a year before transferring to Southeast Missouri State University where he majored in physical education.

Holland believes the greatest challenge in education "is in getting students to reach or attempt to reach their peak potential.

"This attempt to get the most out of students is what gives me the desire to teach," he said.

Seeing his students improve is gratifying for Holland.

"I like it when they see that their hard work has paid off," he said.

"Then they realize what it takes to make themselves successful."

Holland's most memorable experience at school was the New Hamburg Earthquake.

"With all the noise in the gym that the earthquake created," he said, "it stirred up quite a few nerves among my students."

Holland also coaches junior high basketball as well as high school basketball and baseball.

He lives with his wife, Tracy, and enjoys hunting, fishing, basketball and baseball.