Dear Lakeview Families,
Her name was Ms. Harris, she was my 4th grade teacher. She looked like a stereotypical grandmother: white hair, glasses, a gentle face and a soft hug. But my goodness, did she expect the best of us! She recognized I was a strong reader and challenged me to read 40,000 pages (with completed book reports) during the school year. The promised reward? A $3 McDonald's gift certificate. The reality was I would have done anything to stretch to Ms. Harris's expectations, the gift certificate did not matter. Her encouragement took me from a boy who liked to read to becoming a reader. It became part of my identity, the way a perceived myself and how I move through life.
Mr. Hunter, my 8th grade Geometry and Earth Science teacher, was 67 years old, a very slight, short man with oversized glasses. He was a bit of a smart aleck, perfect for us 8th grade adolescents who would snicker his jokes in the middle of a lecture about mathematical proofs or erosion. I can still picture him slumped over in a chair, dog sick from a cold or the flu, dictating to a student acting as scribe, but refusing to get a substitute because he did not want to miss a day of being our teacher. It was that 8th grade year I decided teaching was my calling.
I enrolled in photography my junior year of high school because I needed an art elective. I had never really cared about photography and did not own a camera at the time. But Mr. Pullan demonstrated a craftsmanship and art that enthralled me, I quickly came to believe I had a little bit of artist in me. I loved spending hours, late into the evening, in the high school black-and-white photography dark room developing prints. Photography is still one of my favorite hobbies thanks to Ms. Pullan.
It is Teacher Appreciation Week this week, and I could tell a dozen more stories about teachers who changed my life. I bet you could too. I am convinced I get to work with the greatest people in the world every day here at Lakeview, I am amazed daily at their skill and service on behalf of your children.
I hope you will take a moment to write a note or email of thanks to your student's teacher, I can testify to the care they show your student daily:
https://youtu.be/d_pGiUeVFEU
Thanks - Steve