First of all, don’t get me wrong, I have had the privilege of having many wonderful teachers over the years who have all impacted me in different ways, but this is for my favorite teacher: Mrs. Bender. I was lucky enough to be in Mrs. Bender’s first grade class 14 years ago during her first year of teaching. Little did I know then at only 6 years old, the impact this woman would have on me.
Thank you for teaching me how to put spaces in between my words (For some reason, I struggled with this). Thank you for teaching me foundational skills that I will use for the rest of my life. Thank you for teaching me to love learning and commit to life- long learning. Thank you for making everything we did fun whether it was reading with our 3rd grade reading buddies, centers, singing our poems in the morning, or dancing to the Tooty Ta. Thank you for instilling a deep passion in me to become a teacher at such a young age. Most 6 year olds want to be a princess, or movie star or astronaut, I wanted to be you. I wanted the things you had your classroom for my own classroom in my basement. I even wanted the same purse you carried. I looked up to you so much that I wanted to be you when I grew up. Thank you for inspiring my own educational philosophy. Thank you for the advice and help over the years. Most of all thank you for taking the time to build a relationship with me.
Relationships matter. No one made you get to me know me. No one made you take me bowling or for ice cream afterschool or come swimming with me in the summer or come to my dance recitals and soccer games. You did this because your heart is huge and you care.
Educator Kayla Delzer says “You don’t have a one year contract with your students. Meaningful relationships don’t end when the school year does. “ You live this out. I remember finding out on the last day of school that you would be moving to a different school and crying with you. I did not want to leave your classroom. I remember you promised to stay in touch and I promised to visit you. Most kids would have moved on to 2nd grade, and most teachers would have moved on to their new school and new students. You didn’t.
We kept in touch. You let me come help you set your classroom up, and visit you year after year. Even now, when I live 1,500 miles away, you still talk to me on a regular basis and let me visit during breaks. Thank you for still welcoming me into your classroom, it is magical watching you teach. You continue to teach me new things and push me to become the best educator I can. You are constantly doing innovative things in your classroom, and you never let your teaching become stagnant, while always doing what is best for kids. I now know that if I am half the teacher you are, I will be excellent. Over the past 14 years you have become my mentor, friend, like a second mom to me. Next to my mother you are my favorite person in the world. Thank you for being you. Words will never be deep enough to express my gratitude for you.
I love you to pieces,
Brianna
