Christine "Miss Christie" Ontko has been a teacher for 19 years on the small Lake Erie Island of Put-in-Bay, Ohio. She is also a 5th generation islander and has been writing for her local paper for years in a column perfectly named "Island Girl." In her years as an elementary teacher, she has taught all grades, including preschool. First and foremost, she believes teachers should focus on love in the classroom. Then, learing and growth exists almost spontaeously, with students who WANT to do well.