This is what it is all about......

Teaching is a hard job, no if's and's or but's about it. Sure we have the whole summer off and 2 weeks at Christmas, but it is because we need it. Teaching has changed so much since I was little, and even in the last 6 years since I started. I find myself complaining to everyone about all of the paperwork and minutia that is required of us. Between RTI folders, Lesson plans, grading papers, tutoring, workshops, and parent conferences, we actually have to TEACH! Sometimes I think that maybe teaching is not for me, but today I got a note that reminded my exactly why I teach....because "to teach is to touch a life forever" I have taught for 6 years and never gotten anything like this from a parent. So thank you for reminding me why I do love this job!

Mrs. Leon –

I wanted to say thank you for being the person and teacher that you are. I know I haven’t met you (yet) but "B" cannot say enough good things about you. The character that you possess precedes you and you are making a lasting impression on my daughter. Written words cannot express my gratitude for who you are and what you have done for my daughter!

Last school year was a horrible one for her – she would get in the car every day after school in tears and say she never wanted to go back and even getting her out the door in the morning to go to school was a daily battle. She was REALLY dreading this school year (and I was, too – it’s awful to see your child in pain.) If she did not get placed with a compatible teacher this year, things were literally to the point that I was going to change her school if there continued to be problems.

It may not mean anything to you, but we have been praying since the middle of last school year that the teacher she would get in 3^rd grade would be a better fit for her. And it hasn’t just been the prayers of our household, but the prayers of others in our family, our church community, and personal friends. Even though we did not know who her teacher would be, you have been covered in prayer for a long time now! God knew who you were before we did!

"B" is SO happy now. She is enjoying herself SO much, and FLOURISHING! God has answered our heart-cries to Him for a good teacher that can handle her little idiosyncrasies with great grace! I literally cried when I received her report card because there were FOUR positive comments about her! (Last year, the negative comments far outweighed the positive ones.) She shows those comments to EVERYONE that she can – even the mail man – and she is just glowing. She’s even eager to do her homework – which for ANY parent is an answered prayer!

Keep doing what you’re doing, Mrs. Leon. I am sure that one of your goals as a teacher is to positively impact the lives of the children, and I must say – you are doing an awesome job at that. I asked "B" who her favorite teacher was out of all the teachers that she’s had, and she said you. 

Again, thank you. God bless you.