Alex was quiet, insecure, uncertain, – not just the first day of school, but for most all the shortening days before Christmas. He couldn’t look people in the eyes. He couldn’t read or write how a graduate Kindergartner was supposed to. Statistics were beginning to stack against him already – he may not graduate high school, certainly no college.
My Husband and I bumped into Alex almost twenty years later. My husband noticed a Marine Corp sticker in the window of his car. Semper Fidelis, it said, the motto of a Marine – Always Faithful. Alex told us he graduated from college, and from Marine Corp boot camp. He was a veteran of a foreign war, and having served his time with honor, was so discharged. And he was enrolled to start a Masters program at one of Maine’s Universities the following month. He recognized me, beyond time and reason, from when I was his first-grade teacher.
There are many who enter into our care who are, for reasons often unknowable, seemingly shut down to learning. My job as an educator is to find a key to unlock the doors of curiosity . . . then support those hungry-to-learn minds with all I've got. My job as an educator is to listen with an open heart, to the little ones, and their parents, and facilitate a group effort to create a successful learner – and a successful human being.
I watched Alex, the powerful, confident, still somewhat quiet young man, look my husband square in the eyes, then grasp his hand with comfort and ease, and give it a man-to-man shake. Alex leaned down, and with a gentle giant touch, surrounded me with a hug. As an educator, this is one of the ten thousand moments I live for.
I highly value communication with families; we are a team! Our mission is to help your children to grow and develop as readers, as writers, as mathematicians, as thinkers and as human beings.
Ways in which I can be reached:
Meroby Elementary 364-3714 ext 3203
Email: [email protected]
My Husband and I bumped into Alex almost twenty years later. My husband noticed a Marine Corp sticker in the window of his car. Semper Fidelis, it said, the motto of a Marine – Always Faithful. Alex told us he graduated from college, and from Marine Corp boot camp. He was a veteran of a foreign war, and having served his time with honor, was so discharged. And he was enrolled to start a Masters program at one of Maine’s Universities the following month. He recognized me, beyond time and reason, from when I was his first-grade teacher.
There are many who enter into our care who are, for reasons often unknowable, seemingly shut down to learning. My job as an educator is to find a key to unlock the doors of curiosity . . . then support those hungry-to-learn minds with all I've got. My job as an educator is to listen with an open heart, to the little ones, and their parents, and facilitate a group effort to create a successful learner – and a successful human being.
I watched Alex, the powerful, confident, still somewhat quiet young man, look my husband square in the eyes, then grasp his hand with comfort and ease, and give it a man-to-man shake. Alex leaned down, and with a gentle giant touch, surrounded me with a hug. As an educator, this is one of the ten thousand moments I live for.
I highly value communication with families; we are a team! Our mission is to help your children to grow and develop as readers, as writers, as mathematicians, as thinkers and as human beings.
Ways in which I can be reached:
Meroby Elementary 364-3714 ext 3203
Email: [email protected]