Every year when Teacher Appreciation Week comes around, I always think back to my teachers who made a difference in my life. Four years ago, I wrote a little bit about 5 different teachers I had throughout my life who were special to me. Many of my teachers, in fact, are special, but those 5 stood out at that time. I wrote about them in my blog here https://www.anneduffforeducation.com/my-favorite-educators.html
Since writing that, a friend of Miss LaFontaine (now Mrs. Bierberstein) reached out to me and gave me her address. She told me that she was not on the internet – didn’t even have a computer – but would love to hear from me. So, I wrote her a letter and sent her what I had written. She wrote back to me, and it was so beautiful that I wanted to post it on my Facebook page, so I called her to get her permission. Now we have been sending Christmas cards – hers with a personal, lengthy, beautifully handwritten letter – ever since.
Last winter, I helped another former teacher and co-worker, Mike Morris, plan a North Side Staff reunion. I looked through several years’ worth of yearbooks to make a list of North Side staff to invite the reunion. When I came across Mr. Grantham’s picture in the yearbook, I couldn’t believe how much he looked like a man from the gym. So, the next time I went to the gym, I asked Shane if he were related John Grantham at North Side. Shane replied that he was his son. I told him how special his dad was to me and shared my blog post with him. He was very happy to read what I had written and told me I had made his day and shared the blog with his family.
Now I have even more teachers to be thankful for – my teachers as well as my children’s teachers. I love getting to know and having lasting relationships my children’s teachers. They are so lucky to have so many caring adults in their lives – each one different from the next, and each one teaching my children a new way of thinking, feeling, doing, appreciating, and living. I love the idea of so many adults showing my children different ways to think about the world in which we live. My children grow every day because of the adults who are willing to work hard for very little except to simply make a difference in the lives of young people. It definitely takes a special person to be a teacher – and I’m glad we have had some of the best! They have left a lasting impression on not only my children but on me. Thank you, teachers, for being such a meaningful part of our family! We truly care about you!
Since writing that, a friend of Miss LaFontaine (now Mrs. Bierberstein) reached out to me and gave me her address. She told me that she was not on the internet – didn’t even have a computer – but would love to hear from me. So, I wrote her a letter and sent her what I had written. She wrote back to me, and it was so beautiful that I wanted to post it on my Facebook page, so I called her to get her permission. Now we have been sending Christmas cards – hers with a personal, lengthy, beautifully handwritten letter – ever since.
Last winter, I helped another former teacher and co-worker, Mike Morris, plan a North Side Staff reunion. I looked through several years’ worth of yearbooks to make a list of North Side staff to invite the reunion. When I came across Mr. Grantham’s picture in the yearbook, I couldn’t believe how much he looked like a man from the gym. So, the next time I went to the gym, I asked Shane if he were related John Grantham at North Side. Shane replied that he was his son. I told him how special his dad was to me and shared my blog post with him. He was very happy to read what I had written and told me I had made his day and shared the blog with his family.
Now I have even more teachers to be thankful for – my teachers as well as my children’s teachers. I love getting to know and having lasting relationships my children’s teachers. They are so lucky to have so many caring adults in their lives – each one different from the next, and each one teaching my children a new way of thinking, feeling, doing, appreciating, and living. I love the idea of so many adults showing my children different ways to think about the world in which we live. My children grow every day because of the adults who are willing to work hard for very little except to simply make a difference in the lives of young people. It definitely takes a special person to be a teacher – and I’m glad we have had some of the best! They have left a lasting impression on not only my children but on me. Thank you, teachers, for being such a meaningful part of our family! We truly care about you!
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