Today, the last shall be first.... Tyler had one remaining year in elementary school when we moved to Idaho. Steve enrolled him at Sunny Ridge Elementary last August. The secretaries were extremely nice to Tyler, and asked him if he'd like to choose his 5th grade teacher from the pictures in the hall. Tyler chose Mr. James Bright based on.... Who knows? 9 months later, we know full well.... It was a God-thing. Mr. Bright changed Tyler's life! Here's Ty (his preferred name now), Mr. Bright, and our parting gift of appreciation (an Ohio State bobble head for the Boise State fan):
Do you know the phenomena where women have unusually fond feelings for the doctor that delivered their babies? Weird, I know. But it is inexplicable true! I feel this way about Mr. Bright. Did I just admit that in public? No worries - he's a happily married man with children he adores! :)
Ty had a fantastic school year! Not only is Mr. Bright's classroom every child's dream, but he took special interest in Ty at the beginning of the year. He personally guided Ty to friends; friends with whom, I believe, he will walk side-by-side to high school graduation. Mr. Bright even made state testing fun, and that's a challenge these days! Ty is confident as he approaches 6th grade - his first year of middle school. What an incredible blessing!
I can not speak so fondly of The Trachts final day of elementary school without reminiscing about our first! Tanner's very first day of Kindergarten was the day we moved to Mount Vernon, Ohio. Ahhh, Mrs. Pat John, another saint in teacher's clothes. Steve and I accompanied Tanner to his first day - after sleeping on the floor of our new home the previous night, and eating McDonald's sitting "criss-cross-applesauce" (i.e., the PC term for Indian-style). Tanner was the epitome of a "deer in headlights," and I felt sick leaving my baby with complete strangers in a foreign land. Steve literally pulled me away from the school. It was mommy guilt to the nth degree. Nine years later, Mrs. John is a dear friend (who happens to be retiring this very year). She is like a rock star in Mount Vernon! Yes, we've been blessed every year by loving teachers who cared for our children in their own unique ways!
Ms. Jan Hawkins taught both boys in first grade. Tanner was sooo scared of her on the first day of first grade, yet Ms. Hawkins became one of his favorites. She even took us out for ice cream last summer before we left Ohio. I loved picking Tanner up from school that year, because Jan would often pull me aside and tell me something funny that Tanner had said in class. They have a similar sense of humor, and were consistently cracking one another up!
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| Ms. Hawkins (holding back tears) |
Mrs. Marilyn Nagy, Mrs. Pam Ice, Mrs. Tiffany Firebaugh (Yes, the third grade teachers were Ice and Firebaugh. Pam retired, and now the third grade teachers are Firebaugh and Melton - ha!). Tyler had double casts on his feet for 6 weeks in 3rd grade. Tiffany was so compassionate and helpful! I'll never forget her comments at our parent-teacher conference: "Every morning the kids write in their journals, and I ask for volunteers to share.... Every morning Tyler raises his hand to share from his journal." Yep, that's my Ty! Love his enthusiasm for life.
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| Mrs. Nagy (tall and in pink), Mrs. John (back row in white), and Mrs. Ice (front row in blue) |
Both of my boys connected especially well with their 4th grade teachers: Tanner with Mrs. Jewel Porter, and Tyler with Ms. Hollie Frackman. Jewel had high expectations, but a softness about her that allowed Tanner to relax, and really enjoy school. It was fun to see him so content. Hollie is one of those teachers that gives her life to the profession, and it shows. She hosts "Camp-Read-Alot," a sleepover in the school, every year. And, in Tyler's 4th grade year, she coordinated a "wax museum" of famous Ohioans. It was one of the best school events I've ever attended - and the kids were so proud of themselves. So fun!
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| Tanner and Mrs. Porter |
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| Ms. Frackman and Tyler |
Oh, I am just feeling so nostalgic! Education is just an wonderful thing for children, and their families when teachers are committed, and enjoy their careers. It pains me to see them so frustrated by state legislation that affects the day-to-day activities in their classrooms (but that's another topic altogether). To all teachers who love their careers (most days), and especially to those who touched The Tracht Family, we think the world of you!! THANK YOU!
