Injury attorney Kenneth J. Allen wants to give $1,000 stipends to 20 outstanding elementary school teachers throughout Northwest Indiana and south suburban Cook County.

Allen just needs elementary school students to nominate teachers who go beyond the call to make a difference.

This is the second year Allen has given out the Teachers of Excellence Awards, which he said he does to recognize the difference educators made in his life and continue to make in other students' lives.

"While teaching is, without a doubt, society's most important profession, unfortunately the service our teachers perform is not reflected by their pay," Allen said in a news release.

"We hope to recognize those teachers who have inspired our children. ... All of us have had a special teacher in our lives, the one who made a dull subject interesting or who helped us somehow take the right turn in life. Those teachers deserve to know that they have made a difference ..."

Allen said he remembers growing up in a working-class family in Gary and struggling at times to find direction. But he said educators -- like his fourth-grade teacher, Mrs. Hysong, or the late Dr. Allen Tuttle, of Valparaiso University -- made a huge difference in his life. That's why he and his wife, Nina, offer the $1,000 stipends.

Last year, Allen honored 10 teachers, including Marsha Guth, a teacher at Fegely Middle School in Portage. Guth, who had a student whose mother was sick, not only talked to the student and got her through it, but also took the girl to the grocery store while the girl's mother was in the hospital, took the girl to high school football games and did plenty more for the girl and her sisters.

Guth also made an impression on the girl as a teacher, doing things like singing songs to get students to remember information. The girl ended up nominating Guth for one of the Teaching Excellence Awards.

Allen said teachers can use half their stipends on classroom supplies and activities, but are asked to use half for themselves.

Nomination letters -- nothing formal and no more than a page in length -- should be addressed to Teachers of Excellence, Allen Law Building, 1109 Glendale Blvd., Valparaiso, IN 46383. Letters must be postmarked by Sept. 30.