This is my boy and his all time favorite teacher – Mrs. Jones.
A second after 3rd grade started, the teacher he was supposed to have all year had a baby and Mrs. Jones stepped in. She immediately turned the room into an interactive, dynamic place – new rugs, new wall coverings, new everything. It wasn’t just room B-6, it was Hollywood. All the “kiddos”, as she called them, were mini directors in their own productions. The room was covered in colorful, themed imagery. She was animated and sweet and my boy (and the whole class) loved it.
As the year went on and we all got to know Mrs. Jones, it was clear how much she loved teaching and how much she loved our kids. Yes, all the usual teaching stuff happened. They learned, they read, they wrote. But her class was more than that – it was fun. It was silly. It was over the top. And it was exactly what those little people needed. I’ve never had a teacher send me daily updates (sometimes more!) or pictures of fun things the class did that day. We even got Sunday reminders of what the week ahead would look like. I don’t know about you, but I try very hard to forget where I work from Friday night to Sunday night, not her. It was obvious that this wasn’t a burden for her.
This past week we got a letter from the school that our original teacher (who I’m sure is a wonderful person) is coming back for the last two months of school.
Devastation ensued.
9 year olds crying everywhere.
I still remember my favorite elementary school teacher, Mr. Walter Freeman. 4th Grade. He ate oranges at his desk every morning. When you went up to talk to him, he had a citrus halo around him. Is it weird that almost all my good memories have food related connections? Anyway. He was dreamy.
Teaching is a calling. You need some sort of superpower to be able to walk into those classrooms every day and actually enjoy being there.
So good luck to you Mrs. Jones – there’s a lucky class out there waiting for your cheery voice. Thanks for making a really good memory for my boy.
wifemothereventplanner 
Mar 20, 2013 @ 21:32:44
This blog is so encouraging! I am a Junior in college right now majoring in Elementary Education. This has been my dream to be like Mrs. Jones my whole life. I want to be that teacher that has fun in the classroom, but all students and parents respect. I want to have a great connection with my kids parents so they feel comfortable. I just blogged about this last week of how I am nervous about influencing just one child. I want to be excited to go into work everyday and I want the students to be excited to walk into my classroom. I would love to shadow or pick Mrs. Jones brain just for one day.
Mar 21, 2013 @ 15:46:34
I’m sure you’ll be amazing – I think half the task is actually wanting to do it and it sounds like you do. Thank goodness for teachers – and future teachers!
Mar 24, 2013 @ 23:30:22
Thank you so much, Neha! I tear up each time I read this. It is a privilege and gift to teach such an amazing group of kiddos. I will miss them terribly (their parents too). This “ode” is one of the best gifts I have ever received. My best, Coleen Jones