Patch Contest: Appreciate Your Teacher

It can be a thankless job, teaching.

You're settling drama-filled arguments about who sits next to whom.

You're sorting out who's telling the truth when someone starts crying and everyone's pointing fingers.

And you're always taking work home with you, whether it's papers to grade or kids you're worrying about.

While homeroom moms and parents are working this week to honor teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week, Patch thought it would give a shout-out as well.

We'd like to award a Charleston-area teacher with a $50 gift card to thank them for everything they do. And we're looking for your help.

Just post a comment below to tell us the name and the school of the teacher you'd like to recognize. Tell us why you've chosen them. And next Monday, we'll randomly select one to win a $50 gift card.

And if your comment is selected, we'll give you a $25 gift card as well.

Just nominate one teacher per comment, but you can post as many different comments (with other teachers) as you'd like. And encourage others to do the same, since the more commenters your favorite teacher gets, the better their chance of winning.

Here are the obligatory rules:

• Open to legal residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia who are 18 and older.
• To enter, leave a comment on this story telling us who you think is the best teacher in Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester counties, where they teach and why you chose them.
• All entries must be received by noon Eastern Time, May 14, 2012.
• You may enter one comment per user for each teacher you're nominating. You may enter multiple comments for multiple teachers.
• Two winners will be selected in one random drawing.
• One (1) Grand Prize Winner will receive a $50 Visa gift card for being Charleston's best teacher. Approximate Retail Value: $50. One (1) reader will receive a $25 Visa gift card for nominating the teacher. Approximate Retail Value: $25.
• Click here for complete .