Outstanding Teacher Appreciated as an Other Mother
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Outstanding Teacher Appreciated as an Other Mother
One teacher in particular has treated me and so many of her other students like children of her own.
In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, I can’t think of a more deserving teacher than Mrs. J. She was my sixth-grade teacher and has had a lasting influence over my life since the first day I set foot into her classroom. She was committed and dedicated to serving her students in our south-side Chicago neighborhood. She encouraged us to look beyond our surroundings and look ahead to unlimited horizons of success.
I have fond memories of many teachers from Kindergarten through Graduate School who were outstanding educators focused not only on academic learning but also on student’s personal and social health and well-being. One teacher in particular has treated me and so many of her other students like children of her own. My sixth-grade teacher, Mrs. J, is a nonagenarian, and we have remained in close communication for over fifty years. She had high academic expectations for her students and was stern but fair. In her class, I began to love words and the creative use of words in literature and poetry. I still laugh when I remember her saying, “If you have to use a curse or swear word, you must have a very low vocabulary. There are thousands of other words in the English language you could have chosen to speak instead.”
I still laugh when I remember her saying, “If you have to use a curse or swear word, you must have a very low vocabulary. There are thousands of other words in the English language you could have chosen to speak instead.”
She and her husband, who was also a teacher, took our class on a trip from Chicago ​all the way to California. It was my first plane ride and first time in a hotel. Imagine that. After moving on from her class, I would always return in the summer to help her prepare her classroom for the coming school year. As I and my family (Husband and two daughters) have grown, they also share in the love of Mrs. J with phone calls, visits, and holiday greeting cards. When my biological mother passed away, ​Mrs. J spoke at her funeral and comforted me in her mothering arms, wiping away my tears. I thank her so much and I​ aspire to be as charitable in spirit as she has been to me and so many others.
Thank you Mrs. J and my other teacher mothers for making the classroom a home away from home.Â
Debra Hill
Debra Hill is an independent inspirational singer, author, songwriter, and writer. As a blind performer, she adds a personal story of God’s faithfulness. Her life exemplifies that Christ’s power will work to lift all regardless of circumstances.
The American Council of the Blind of Virginia (ACBVA) to Host Free Summer Information Sessions at Richmond Public Libraries
The American Council of the Blind of Virginia (ACBVA) is proud to announce its latest community initiative called, How we do it: Learn about accessible reading resources for the blind and low-vision, aimed at furthering community awareness, knowledge, and independence. In collaboration with Richmond Public Libraries, ACBVA will host three free summer information sessions from 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm, on June 4, July 2, and August 6.
Please see the Press Release.
Join the American Council of the Blind of Virginia’s Email List
As a member of ACBVA, I encourage you to join our email list to be a part of a vibrant community of visually impaired persons, attend informative monthly online meetings, and learn more about important accessible resources.
For those interested in the benefits of the American Council of the Blind of Virginia (ACBVA) organization, you can also become a member, click the link below!
