Teachers are asked to put up with a lot these days.

Miserly pay. Education budgets that seem to be perennially in proration. Out-dated textbooks and a chronic lack of classroom supplies. Parents who believe that the responsibility for the education of their children rests solely with the school system.

Despite these and other obstacles, there are still dedicated people who choose teaching as a profession. As a community, and as a nation, we can be grateful for their contributions and sacrifice.

One such individual, among the many who deserve to be singled out, is Amy Reeves, who was recently named the Dallas County School System’s Secondary Level Teacher of the Year.

Reeves teaches English and world literature at Dallas County High School. She also teaches drama. She started out by giving up her prep period to help out the drama teacher and ended up teaching the class.

Teachers often make small sacrifices that too often go unnoticed.

A good teacher holds students’ attention by making the subject matter come alive. When Reeves’ world literature class studied &uot;The Odyssey,&uot; she stayed up late one night preparing a feast featuring Greek food for her students.

She was nearly 10 months pregnant at the time. But then, going the extra mile is not unusual for Reeves.

Reeves says she was surprised to learn that she had been selected teacher of the year. With that kind of dedication and enterprise, we’re not at all surprised.

She now goes on to compete for teacher of the year honors for District 5. She will be competing against teachers in 22 other counties.

We wish her well.