Teachers

 

My daughter't teachers have played a huge role in both her life and mine.

Diagnosed with learning disabilities thanks to her first grade teacher, she started a journey that is still continuing. 

These people are still in our lives. When I decided to go back to work this year I asked one of them to be a reference for me and she gladly accepted.

These teachers not only taught in the classroom, we camped with them on vacations, celebrated with them on holidays, became neighbors for a while and are still friends on Facebook.

They made the difference for my child. Instead of a life long struggle living in confusion and poverty she now lives in her own beautiful home with a pool. It was a long hard journey, but it was worth it for all of us.

People often forget that teaching involves not just the student, but the parents, siblings and everyone else in a child's life. Making a difference requires round the clock work, because consistency is the greatest tool anyone has for making a change.

If a teacher can't reach the parents, a child loses at least half of his or her chance to succeed. When a teacher suggests testing a child for anything it is not a prescription for doom. It is not labeling a child as defective. It is offering that child a chance to reach their full potential.