As an education consultant, I often work with teachers that I admire and even some I secretly fangirl over. However, facilitating learning in a room with this woman is a new level of excitement!
Miss. Lonker (who I now have permission to call Andrea) was my 6th grade teacher. We were definitely a class to give any early career teacher a run for their money, but she survived. As educators, we are not always sure of the difference we make in the lives of our students, so I’d like to take a moment to share my story here. In third grade, my family moved to a new neighborhood, and I began attending a new school. I struggled with the adjustment and felt out of place for the entire first year. Between 3rd and 4th grade, my parents divorced, my Uncle David passed away, and my brother joined the Marines. My life felt inverted. In 5th grade, things were beginning to turn right side up. But in 6th grade my family experienced more loss when my Aunt Lynn, Uncle Chip, and my baby cousin Hannah died in a car accident and my Uncle Al was diagnosed with cancer. Once again, my world was upside down. School became my refuge. I’m not sure if Miss. Lonker was aware of what I was facing at home. But at school, her classroom was a place I could relax. A place where books, my favorite escape, were always accessible. I never felt stupid in math, and I was challenged in reading. She celebrated small things with us with Fun Friday parties, and big things like when we threw her a “surprise” wedding shower. She took us to her hometown for the Peace Treaty, and her parents opened their home to us with fresh cinnamon rolls. Most importantly, that year a group of friends became a family because of the atmosphere of trust, high expectations, and love that she created. Many of those relationships still exist today. Over the past 5 years, I have spent a lot of time reflecting on my school experiences, and how they shaped me to overcome different life struggles. And while I do speak of the fact that my trauma seemed to go unnoticed, I have never believed it was because my teachers didn’t care, rather the belief they didn’t know. At age 20, when I decided to become a teacher, it was largely to help kids like me. And it was because of teachers like Miss. Lonker that I knew that I wanted my classroom to feel like a family. So, to an unsung hero, thank you. Whether you were aware or not, you created space for me to feel safe and loved during a time that I was worried and alone. I’m so excited to work with you this year as your school takes on Redesign. You are truly a gift to Kansas education.
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AuthorHope guides me in all endeavors. In both my professional and personal life I see opportunities to share and spread hope with others so that they too may develop pathways to see great possibilities in their lives. I believe in the power of engaged educators to build significant relationships with young people to encourage, inspire, and build great lives. This blog is a collection of my thoughts on education, hope, connecting, and engaging. Archives
July 2018
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