It's not just about the 3 Rs: National Teacher Appreciation Week

At the beginning of the year I believe I told teachers at AHS that had it not been for some very special educators in my life I could, and probably would have, gone down a very different path—not a positive one by any means. 

During third grade I was granted the gift of a teacher, James L. Mendez.  He was the teacher who pulled me aside one day because he didn’t like whom he saw me hanging around with (fifth graders who drank and smoke).  While he was a phenomenal teacher that taught me advanced math and helped recognize I had dyslexia, he is more important to me because he taught me, “Show me your friends, I’ll show you your future.”

Miss Marta E. Shaw was the angel I had in fifth grade.  I remember so many extras she did for me.  Her greatest impacts on me were the following: Drugs and alcohol will kill you; Think before you speak; Reading can take you places.

Carrie Allen helped me fall in love with Shakespeare and to whom I would often think of when I taught English.  While we had a very positive relationship when I was in high school, it wasn’t until after I graduated that I would learn how much she did behind the scenes for me.  Of course these I learned from others who thought I should know.

Richard K. Layson, my grandfather, taught me so much.  He taught me that through hard work anything could be accomplished.  Grandpa taught me why it’s important to give back.  He taught me that there is a time for listening and observing and many times more for this than talking.  Grandpa taught me so much more, and the interesting part is it was mostly taught through example.

Every day of my life I have had a teacher who believed in me and fought for me when I couldn’t fight for myself.  Teachers do make an impact on their students and the world.

During this week I encourage you to take time to thank a teacher who has made a difference in your life.

(PS: The photo is of a headstone that marks a grave that the women in the Hoppe family adopted.  It was their belief, which is carried on by my mother, that no teacher's grave should go unattended. Another valuable lesson.)