I connected with my 6th grade teacher a couple of years ago through FB. I was in his class over 50 years ago. He is now 85 years old. My childhood was fraught with abuse. This man was my refuge. He saw the light in me, even referring to me as a “humanist” in my yearbook. He was one of the helpers Mr. Rogers referred to. Amazingly, he not only remembered me, he told me he always referred to me as a “swan”, because I was a homely child who became quite attractive in my teen years.
He and his wife, my husband and I met up with him last year. I wrote him a long, heartfelt letter which he said moved him to tears. We speak regularly now. He is one of the most special people in my 63 years.
LOVE this conversation - especially as a former high school teacher.
I became a teacher BECAUSE of the influence of one of my high school teachers, who then became a close friend, who spoke at my wedding. We've remained friends. She's truly an icon in my life.
My favorite teacher and mentor was Mr. Weintraut, whom I had five journalism classes with in high school. He saw how excited I was to find a calling and nurtured that — he said at the seniors farewell banquet that I was gifted. I make a point to thank him whenever the I get the chance!
This is going to be long! I love sharing about my 2 favorite teachers who I had in middle school: my 6th grade teacher Miss LeFrancis (now Mrs. Hayes), was a welcome departure from my 5th grade experience. She was fun and engaging but challenged my classmates and me to be our best and didn't take any nonsense. She coached us in running club and also invited the girls in the class over for a sleepover in which I'll never forget having chocolate chip pancakes for the first time (with whipped cream) and sledding down her carpeted stairs in sleeping bags! 35+ years later I still know her and she's had the opportunity to meet my daughter when she was close to the age I was when I was in 6th grade. She surprised us both by presenting us with a 6th grade essay I had written, carefully preserved!
My other favorite teacher was my 8th grade science teacher Mr. Burton - he was a renaissance man who not only introduced so many concepts to us in exciting and often humorous ways, but he didn't allow me and my classmates to phone it in. We learned to go beyond what we thought was academically possible and to always be curious. He also coached me in middle school basketball and led the gospel choir - he had an amazing voice! Sadly, he passed away suddenly a few years ago, but my fellow alumnae and I started a non-profit to champion underrepresented minority women and girls STEM in a way to thank him and honor his legacy.
My favorite teacher was Miss McSpadden in 6th grade. She read aloud to us every day after lunch. The book that caught my attention was Island of the Blue Dolphin. I wrote her a letter several years ago to tell her thank you and that I, too, was a teacher now. One of my friends substituted for her and she has framed that letter and it hung in her classroom. No idea where she is now, but she changed my life!
I connected with my 6th grade teacher a couple of years ago through FB. I was in his class over 50 years ago. He is now 85 years old. My childhood was fraught with abuse. This man was my refuge. He saw the light in me, even referring to me as a “humanist” in my yearbook. He was one of the helpers Mr. Rogers referred to. Amazingly, he not only remembered me, he told me he always referred to me as a “swan”, because I was a homely child who became quite attractive in my teen years.
He and his wife, my husband and I met up with him last year. I wrote him a long, heartfelt letter which he said moved him to tears. We speak regularly now. He is one of the most special people in my 63 years.
This is beautiful, Lisa.
LOVE this conversation - especially as a former high school teacher.
I became a teacher BECAUSE of the influence of one of my high school teachers, who then became a close friend, who spoke at my wedding. We've remained friends. She's truly an icon in my life.
I love this!
My favorite teacher and mentor was Mr. Weintraut, whom I had five journalism classes with in high school. He saw how excited I was to find a calling and nurtured that — he said at the seniors farewell banquet that I was gifted. I make a point to thank him whenever the I get the chance!
This is so great, Mike.
This is going to be long! I love sharing about my 2 favorite teachers who I had in middle school: my 6th grade teacher Miss LeFrancis (now Mrs. Hayes), was a welcome departure from my 5th grade experience. She was fun and engaging but challenged my classmates and me to be our best and didn't take any nonsense. She coached us in running club and also invited the girls in the class over for a sleepover in which I'll never forget having chocolate chip pancakes for the first time (with whipped cream) and sledding down her carpeted stairs in sleeping bags! 35+ years later I still know her and she's had the opportunity to meet my daughter when she was close to the age I was when I was in 6th grade. She surprised us both by presenting us with a 6th grade essay I had written, carefully preserved!
My other favorite teacher was my 8th grade science teacher Mr. Burton - he was a renaissance man who not only introduced so many concepts to us in exciting and often humorous ways, but he didn't allow me and my classmates to phone it in. We learned to go beyond what we thought was academically possible and to always be curious. He also coached me in middle school basketball and led the gospel choir - he had an amazing voice! Sadly, he passed away suddenly a few years ago, but my fellow alumnae and I started a non-profit to champion underrepresented minority women and girls STEM in a way to thank him and honor his legacy.
I love that you've honored him like that. These both sound like incredible influences.
My favorite teacher was Miss McSpadden in 6th grade. She read aloud to us every day after lunch. The book that caught my attention was Island of the Blue Dolphin. I wrote her a letter several years ago to tell her thank you and that I, too, was a teacher now. One of my friends substituted for her and she has framed that letter and it hung in her classroom. No idea where she is now, but she changed my life!
I love this!
I've told some of them. Most did not respond.
I'm glad that you still made the effort to tell them, though!