Extracted from:
http://news.asiaone.com/News/The%2BS...e%2Btrack.html
WHEN the going gets tough, CHIJ Katong Convent students know they can count on Physical Education (PE) teacher Emily Huang.
In her seven years at the school, the avid runner has inspired many students - both on and off the running track - to reach beyond themselves.
'She transformed me from one who disliked running to a National Schools Cross-Country medallist,' said ex-student Dinah Chan, 20.
Another former student Vivien Sng, also 20, recounted how, on a 2002 school trip to Mount Kinabalu, Ms Huang held her hand all the way to the peak because she was scared she would fall.
For her unflagging energy and enthusiasm, Ms Huang, 29, has been conferred this year's Outstanding Youth in Education Award (OYEA).
The other winners are Ms Esther Ong, 27, from Woodlands Primary and Ms Sukhjeet Kaur, 28, from Swiss Cottage Secondary.
The award, started in 1999, recognises young teachers who inspire and bring out the best in their students.
One of her challenges at CHIJ Katong Convent was to get the secondary school girls, many of whom disliked running and getting sweaty, to enjoy PE lessons.
She hit upon the idea of a game, Amazing Race style.
It had students running from one point to another, where they would have to answer questions. And then set off for the next point.
By the time they completed the game, they had covered a distance of 3km - much more than the 2.4km required for their fitness test.
Ms Huang's influence, however, extends well beyond the sporting arena.
Last year, she helped set up a student council in place of the prefectorial board so that students could have more say in choosing their leaders.
Also, as the form teacher of an academically weak class last year, she worked hard to engage the students, said Katong Convent principal Lam Ai Leen.
All this activity requires Ms Huang to be fit - which is why she runs at least 30km a week.
She also does community work as an assistant secretary of the Wings Athletic Club, which runs activities for youth athletes.
Fellow award winner Ms Ong, a Chinese Language teacher, is passionate not just about her work in class but also about helping at-risk pupils. She takes the time to visit these children at home, convincing them that they should stay in school.
She is also a youth volunteer, as is Ms Kaur, an English Literature teacher.
Ms Kaur said that her career highlights include her efforts to set up the school's English Literary Debating and Drama Society and to help it win the bronze award for drama at the 2005 Singapore Youth Festival.
The three winners received their awards from Education Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam at the National Institute of Education (NIE) graduation ceremony yesterday.
Some 542 of this year's 2,016 NIE graduates received their certificates at the event.
In a speech, Mr Tharman highlighted the ways in which teachers are looked after. For instance, 25 schools now have a School Staff Developer to plan professional development for employees. This project may be extended to all schools.
Also, the Education Ministry's Training and Development Division has started a scheme to help staff achieve a healthy work-life balance.
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We definitely need more teachers like Emily Huang to guide our future generations:mellow3:
She inspires her students - on and off the track 
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