Thanking a Teacher

Almost all of us can remember a teacher or two, in our past, that either turned our lives around or at least made an indelible impression on our minds with their kindness and love. The sad part about it is that we never seem to find the time to write or call and tell that person about our feelings.

Last year I wrote an article about a lovely teacher I had as a child and sent it to my hometown newspaper in Pennsylvania. They published it and I was pleased, thinking she might read it and be surprised. At the end of the article, the editor’s note said that she had died six years previous. How sad. Why did I wait so long to say what was in my heart?

Well, I’m not going to let another day pass without saying something nice about a couple of other teachers I know. These were teachers I taught and worked with and they have now retired from the Westminster School District.

If you drive by our central office facilities, you will see our curriculum lab. It is named after Clara Kelner. I met Clara 27 years ago when I started teaching in the Westminster School District. She was an outstanding teacher. She taught with love, respect and discipline. She was my “mentor” and she guided me along the way.

The other teacher is Shirley Burns. I don’t think you could find a more dedicated person in the field of education. Shirley and Clara were both strict “disciplinarians” and “no nonsense” teachers who placed the emphasis on the “basics.” Today, if either of them came out of retirement, they would be just as much in demand by the parents as they were then. And the reason would be because they knew the importance of teaching and loved the children.

Congratulations to both of these fine individuals. They were a credit to their profession and an example for all of us to follow.

I encourage everyone to take a minute and communicate with that special teacher that she or he remembers. I’m sure a card or phone call would brighten the teacher’s day. Don’t put it off. Do it today. Don’t wait and be too late.

GUY CARROZZO

Principal,

Sequoia Elementary School

Westminster School District